KARACHI, Nov 22 (Alliance News): Starting November 30, the government will implement a new policy restricting access to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Pakistan, affecting millions of internet users.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced that VPN registration will be available only to companies and freelancers using the service for commercial purposes.
This policy excludes ordinary users who rely on VPNs for privacy or accessing restricted websites and social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
The Ministry of Interior, in a directive issued on November 15, instructed the PTA to block “illegal VPNs,” citing their misuse by terrorists for facilitating violent activities and accessing prohibited content, including pornography and blasphemous material.
The directive urged businesses to register their VPNs by the end of November.
VPNs create secure, encrypted internet connections, protecting users from surveillance and censorship. However, the PTA’s registration requirements mandate that applicants provide fixed IP addresses and authentication documents. Only freelancers and entities such as companies, embassies, and call centers qualify for registration.
According to a PTA official, this ensures VPNs are used for lawful purposes, although concerns remain about potential privacy implications.
The policy arrives amid growing censorship in Pakistan, where social media outages and website restrictions have driven VPN usage to new heights. For example, X was blocked earlier this year over “national security concerns,” and users have reported ongoing issues with WhatsApp media transfers. Opposition political websites and some international news platforms also remain inaccessible.
The growing demand for VPNs highlights the reliance on these services to bypass restrictions. ProtonVPN reported a 350% surge in sign-ups on November 10 alone.
However, experts warn that requiring fixed IPs essentially excludes many common VPN services, limiting users’ ability to navigate increasing censorship.
Simon Migliano of Top10VPN remarked that Pakistan seems to be following China’s model of controlling VPN use. He cautioned that government-approved VPNs could raise privacy risks, as authorities might demand access to traffic logs or other sensitive data.
Despite these challenges, some VPNs in countries like China have adapted to censorship using advanced protocols, suggesting that determined providers may still offer services in Pakistan.
The PTA has not clarified the legal basis for the policy, and while the scope of enforcement remains uncertain, users are bracing for significant impacts on online privacy and freedom.
