The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) plans to block VPNs across Pakistan in order to regulate their use nationwide. The decision, spearheaded by PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman, was disclosed during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat. The new policy mandates that only approved VPNs will be permitted to function, intending to curb the widespread use of these services for accessing blocked content, particularly social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Surge in Usage Prompts PTA to Block VPNs Across Pakistan
The PTA plans to block VPNs comes in the wake of a dramatic increase in VPN usage in Pakistan throughout 2024. The surge was primarily driven by users seeking to bypass the government-imposed ban on X, leading to a 131% rise in VPN demand shortly after the platform was blocked.
VPN providers, such as Surfshark, reported a 300-400% increase in new user acquisitions following the ban, highlighting the reliance on VPNs to access restricted content. Despite the ban, approximately 30% of X users continued to access the platform via VPNs, underscoring the limitations of the current restrictions.
Potential Impact on IT Sector
The PTA chief acknowledged the implications of a blanket VPN ban on Pakistan’s IT sector. Many IT businesses rely on VPNs for secure operations, and a complete prohibition could disrupt their functionality. The PTA’s approach must balance regulatory objectives with the need to support the technology sector’s growth.
Previous attempts to regulate VPN usage, such as the 2010 VPN regulations and the 2022 registration requirements for public and private sectors, have seen inconsistent enforcement. The current move to block VPNs could therefore have repercussions, necessitating a well-considered strategy to avoid adverse impacts on the country’s digital industry.
Read more: PTA Supports VPN Whitelisting for Better IT Security
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