ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has indicated that unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) across the country may soon be blocked, according to ARY News. This development was discussed during a Senate IT and Telecom committee meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.
The PTA Chairman highlighted the rising complaints against social media platforms, with TikTok, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter) being the most reported. In response to a question about VPN usage by assembly members, the Chairman stated that Pakistan is working on internet restrictions similar to those implemented in Dubai and China.
The PTA has already registered 20,500 VPN users and is running a campaign to encourage further registration. Unregistered VPNs will eventually be blocked, warned the Chairman. To support businesses such as software houses, call centers, and freelancers, the PTA launched a one-window operation for IP and VPN registration, available through the PTA and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) websites.
This ongoing effort, coordinated by the PTA, Ministry of Information Technology (MOIT), PSEB, and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), has registered over 20,000 IPs since 2020, ensuring businesses maintain secure and uninterrupted online operations.
In a related development, senior journalist Hamid Mir has filed a petition against firewall installation in Pakistan, arguing it has significantly reduced internet speeds, adversely affecting the country’s digital economy. The petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court through lawyer Imaan Mazari.
