Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started blocking free and unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to enhance data security for internet users in Pakistan. According to reports, PTA has already temporarily restricted access to free VPN services, and has mandated users to register VPNs for continued use.
The PTA stated that unregistered VPNs pose a security risk, as they can provide access to private information and potentially illegal content. Their role is to safeguard user data and prevent unauthorized content access. Since the VPN registration process was first implemented in 2010, about 20,500 VPNs have been registered, including those of over 1,422 companies.
In line with international practices, PTA aims to streamline VPN registration and whitelist compliant services. Countries like China, Russia, Iran, and Turkey have already blocked unregistered VPNs, while the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have started similar processes, allowing VPNs solely for business purposes.
On Sunday, Pakistani internet users reported issues accessing social media and other websites via VPN, as the government reportedly blocked certain sites, including social media platform X (formerly Twitter), through a firewall.
