The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) plans to implement a new policy to regulate the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) nationwide.
PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman announced during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat that under the new policy, only approved VPNs would operate in Pakistan.
This decision follows a significant increase in VPN usage in 2024, primarily to access the blocked social media platform X (formerly Twitter). A report by Top10VPN noted that VPN demand surged by 131% on February 19, just two days after the platform was blocked. Additionally, Surfshark, a VPN provider, reported a spike in new user sign-ups in Pakistan, increasing by 300-400% following the ban.
Read: Nationwide VPN Ban Possible But Not Planned: PTA Chairman States
Chairman Rehman noted that since the ban, the number of X users in Pakistan has dropped by 70%, with only 30% accessing the platform via VPNs. The widespread use of VPNs to bypass the ban calls into question its effectiveness.
Rehman also highlighted concerns that a total ban on VPNs could jeopardize several IT businesses that rely on them. It is important to note that this is not Pakistan’s first attempt to regulate VPNs. Previous initiatives, including a 2010 VPN regulation and a 2022 registration drive, have seen limited success.
