Major General (Retired) Hafeez ur Rahman, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has announced an extension of the deadline for registering Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in response to requests from stakeholders in the IT industry and freelancers.
The chairman confirmed that VPNs would not be blocked after the initial deadline of November 30, although he did not specify a new date. The issue has been forwarded to the Ministry of Interior, which will determine the revised deadline. He stressed that this registration is crucial for improving cybersecurity, national security, and data protection nationwide.
PTA sources report that over 27,000 VPNs have been successfully registered so far. Despite this progress, the freelance and business communities have widely appealed for more time to comply with registration requirements. Reflecting these concerns, the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association advocated for an extension to facilitate public awareness and ease registration. The association’s chairman, Shehzad Arshad, communicated these points to the Secretary of the Interior in a letter.
Read: Wispap Urges Extension of VPN Registration Deadline in Pakistan
Arshad commended the government’s efforts to regulate VPN usage as vital for securing national interests. He argued that simplifying the registration process would not only alleviate concerns about data protection but also assist the public, freelancers, and businesses in adapting to the regulations.
PTA officials believe that regulating VPNs will mitigate the risks of cyber attacks associated with unregistered networks and enhance the overall security of Pakistan’s digital infrastructure. They anticipate that the Ministry of the Interior will soon announce a new deadline, providing stakeholders with the necessary time to meet registration requirements.
This initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s digital economy and cybersecurity. Experts suggest this policy will bolster national security and create a safer and more regulated environment for the IT industry and freelancers.
