The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has indicated it may block unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) nationwide.
During a Senate committee meeting on IT and Telecom, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, the use of VPNs was a key topic of discussion. The Chairman of the PTA noted that the authority has been receiving complaints regarding social media applications, with allegations involving 95% of TikTok incidents, 65% of Meta, and 22% of X (formerly Twitter).
Senator Humayun Mohmand inquired about the implications of VPN usage for assembly members, prompting the Chairman to compare Pakistan’s internet management strategies to those of Dubai and China.
The PTA has registered 20,500 VPN users and is actively campaigning for more registrations. The Chairman warned that unregistered VPNs would soon be blocked.
Read: Report Reveals VPNs Boost Internet Speed Amid Pakistani Disruptions
To facilitate the smooth operation of businesses such as software houses, call centres, freelancers, and foreign missions, the PTA has introduced a one-window operation for IP and VPN registration, available on both the PTA and PSEB websites. This initiative, supported by the Ministry of Information Technology, Pakistan Software Export Board, and Pakistan Software Houses Association, has successfully registered over 20,000 IPs since 2020, aiming to ensure secure and uninterrupted online business operations.
Organizations are urged to register their VPNs to secure digital activities and enhance operational efficiency.
Read: PTA Launches One-Window Operation for IP and VPN Registration
Additionally, it’s important to note that senior journalist Hamid Mir has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against implementing firewalls and internet shutdowns. Represented by lawyer Imaan Mazari, the petition argues that the firewall installation has significantly reduced internet speed, adversely affecting the digital economy’s primary contributors, the youth.
