The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Sunday that it would delay the ban on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) following a legal review that found no legal grounds to block the service. This decision means VPNs will continue to operate, even after the previously set deadline of November 30.
Earlier, the PTA had established November 30 as the deadline for VPN registration, warning that unregistered VPNs would be blocked after that date. However, despite the deadline passing, no action has been taken, and VPNs remain operational.
PTA sources have confirmed that VPN registration is still ongoing, with decisions about the future of unregistered VPNs pending further instructions from the Ministry of Interior. This move comes after initial requests from the Interior Ministry to block unregistered VPNs due to concerns about their use for illegal activities, including terrorism and access to inappropriate content.
The Ministry of Law has now clarified that the government does not have the legal authority to ban VPNs under current laws, particularly under Section 34 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. PECA focuses on blocking unlawful online content but does not extend to tools like VPNs.
Sources from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication emphasized that VPNs are used for connecting to applications, not for directly accessing illegal content. This distinction is expected to be significant if the matter is contested in court, where the judiciary may favor the continued use of VPNs.
Despite the passing of the registration deadline, PTA continues to process VPN registrations. As of now, approximately 27,000 VPNs have been registered, with an additional 7,000 registrations expected in the coming days.
Meanwhile, internet users in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar are facing significant disruptions, with complaints about severely slow internet speeds and unreliable Wi-Fi services. In Karachi, residents of North Nazimabad, Gulshan, and Karsaz have reported major slowdowns in internet connectivity, making online activities like browsing and streaming difficult. Many businesses relying on online services have raised concerns about potential losses due to these connectivity issues. In Peshawar, users are also experiencing slow speeds, especially when uploading and downloading content such as voice notes, photos, and videos.
