ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has indicated plans to block unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) across the country. This development was discussed during a recent Senate committee meeting on IT and Telecom, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.
The PTA Chairman reported receiving numerous complaints regarding social media applications, noting that 95% of complaints involve TikTok, 65% concern Meta, and 22% relate to X (formerly Twitter).
In response to a query from Senator Humayun Mohmand about whether VPN use by assembly members would be against policy, the PTA Chairman clarified that the authority is working to implement internet restrictions similar to those in Dubai and China.
The PTA Chairman also disclosed that 20,500 VPNs have been registered with the authority and announced an ongoing campaign to promote registration. He warned that unregistered VPNs will eventually be blocked.
In an effort to support business continuity, including software houses, call centers, freelancers, and foreign missions, the PTA has introduced a streamlined “one-window” operation for IP and VPN registration. This process is accessible through the PTA and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) websites.
Since 2020, over 20,000 IPs have been registered under this initiative, which is coordinated by the PTA, the Ministry of Information Technology (MOIT), PSEB, and the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA). Businesses are encouraged to register their VPNs to ensure secure and uninterrupted online operations.
In a related development, senior journalist Hamid Mir has filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court challenging the installation of firewalls and internet shutdowns.
Represented by lawyer Imaan Mazari, Mir’s petition argues that the installation of firewalls has led to a significant drop in internet speeds, adversely affecting the digital economy and the youth, who are crucial to its growth.
