Hello Mr James

Certainly, using a VPN is a workaround, but it's worth noting that obtaining an IP block exemption is still necessary to edit Commons, and this is not always feasible for all users. Many may not even be aware of its existence. For instance, I couldn't edit Commons since October 2020 until I discovered the option for IP ban exemption. . 

And because of this, contributions to Commons from Pakistan have significantly dwindled. For instance, I recall organizing Wiki Loves Monuments Pakistan from 2014, where we used to receive thousands of images annually. However, in recent years, the number of uploads has drastically declined, with only a maximum of 100 photos being uploaded each year. This trend underscores the challenges Pakistani users face in accessing and contributing to the site.
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Saqib Qayyum


On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 9:55 PM James Heilman <jmh649@gmail.com> wrote:
Can you not just use a VPN?

James

On Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 9:29 PM Saqib Qayyum <saqibqayyumc@gmail.com> wrote:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I am writing to you as a concerned volunteer from Pakistan regarding a critical issue that has been persisting for several years now. Despite multiple attempts to communicate this matter to members of the WMF's communication team, there has been a disappointing lack of response or acknowledgment.

For the past several years, Commons has been blocked in Pakistan. While Wikipedia was briefly blocked last year, the swift response from both Pakistani and international news media led to its unblocking. However, the blockade of Commons, being a less prominent site in comparison, has gone largely unnoticed.

Furthermore, several journalists I have spoken to have also expressed frustration over their attempts to reach out to WMF staff regarding this issue, only to receive no response.

I urge the WMF to prioritize this matter and take immediate action to address the ongoing blockage of Commons in Pakistan. 

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. 
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James Heilman
MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian
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