This research study examines the attitudes of Pakistani higher education students towards compulsory digital and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study surveyed 126 undergraduate and postgraduate students to understand their perspectives on online education in Pakistan. The findings highlight that online learning is ineffective in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan due to limited internet access, technical issues, and financial constraints. Key challenges include lack of face-to-face interaction, response time, and the absence of traditional classroom socialization. The study concludes that online learning cannot produce desired results in Pakistan, where a majority of students lack access to reliable internet services. The research also suggests that educational institutions need to improve their curriculum and design appropriate content for online lectures to ensure effective learning outcomes.This research study examines the attitudes of Pakistani higher education students towards compulsory digital and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study surveyed 126 undergraduate and postgraduate students to understand their perspectives on online education in Pakistan. The findings highlight that online learning is ineffective in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan due to limited internet access, technical issues, and financial constraints. Key challenges include lack of face-to-face interaction, response time, and the absence of traditional classroom socialization. The study concludes that online learning cannot produce desired results in Pakistan, where a majority of students lack access to reliable internet services. The research also suggests that educational institutions need to improve their curriculum and design appropriate content for online lectures to ensure effective learning outcomes.