ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reaffirmed on Tuesday that virtual private networks (VPNs) are not being blocked in Pakistan.
In response to recent media reports suggesting a VPN ban, the PTA clarified, “VPNs are not being blocked in Pakistan.”
A VPN establishes a secure digital connection between a user’s device and a remote server managed by a VPN provider. This connection encrypts the user’s data, masks their IP address, and allows them to bypass website blocks and firewalls, thereby enhancing online privacy and security.
In Pakistan, the use of VPNs has increased, particularly following the block of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) owned by Elon Musk and other internet disruptions. Users also turn to VPNs for faster internet connections and downloads.
Internet disruptions have plagued users nationwide for several weeks, with authorities attributing the issue to a “faulty” submarine cable, expecting a resolution by early October. Criticism has arisen from netizens and the IT sector, with concerns that the slowdown and limited connectivity are due to the testing of an internet firewall intended to filter and block unwanted social media content.
The government has previously cited the surge in VPN usage as a factor contributing to the internet slowdown.
Yesterday, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) 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).
To address these issues, the PTA is encouraging IT companies, software houses, freelancers, and banks to register their internet protocols (IPs) for VPN use. This registration aims to ensure uninterrupted internet services for these entities in case of any disruptions.
The PTA has stated that the VPN registration process, available through the PTA and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) websites, is straightforward, taking two to three days and free of charge.
Since 2020, the PTA has registered over 20,000 IPs for VPN use. Previously, the PTA had announced a “one-window” operation for VPN registration to support businesses, call centers, freelancers, and foreign missions/embassies, ensuring their secure and uninterrupted operations.
Amidst concerns about a VPN ban, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman informed the Senate’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat that the PTA was instead whitelisting VPNs through an “automated process,” which would restrict access to only selected proxy networks in Pakistan.
