Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman, Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman Pasha, has announced that November 30 is the final deadline for VPN registration. After this date, all unregistered VPNs will be blocked.
According to the PTA, over 20,000 VPNs have already been registered. In Pakistan, out of 2.5 million freelancers, around 1 million use VPNs, contributing $400 million annually to the country’s IT exports. The ban on unregistered VPNs could significantly impact this revenue.
PTA has provided a free, user-friendly facility on its website for VPN registration, which can be completed within 8 to 10 hours. Through registration, users can enjoy better internet services and protection against online fraud. During a Senate Committee meeting, legal concerns regarding the ban on unregistered VPNs were raised. The PTA Chairman clarified that VPNs could be blocked to prevent access to illegal content.
The meeting also addressed internet slowdowns in some regions, particularly in Balochistan, where issues were linked to law and order concerns. However, the PTA denied any nationwide slowdown of internet services. The committee has requested further consultations on the matter before November 30.
