The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has denied reports suggesting the government is planning to block Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). In an official statement released on Tuesday, the PTA clarified, “VPNs are not being blocked in Pakistan.”
The authority, however, is urging IT companies, software houses, freelancers, and banks to register their IPs for using VPNs. According to the PTA, this step aims to ensure uninterrupted internet services for these entities in case of any disruptions.
Earlier in August, PTA’s head had informed a parliamentary committee about plans to regulate VPN usage in the country by allowing certain networks while blocking others. This sparked concerns over potential internet slowdowns and access issues.
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Meanwhile, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Pakistan’s IT minister, addressed the topic in a press conference last month, attributing the slowdown of internet services to the widespread use of VPNs. She reassured the public that neither the state had slowed down nor shut down the internet.
Khawaja explained that users resorted to VPNs to access certain apps, which contributed to the decreased speeds. She did not name the apps or services affected but said the problem arose from users’ attempts to bypass restrictions through VPNs.
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