On Tuesday, the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) addressed rumors and clarified that virtual private networks (VPNs) are not being blocked in the country. VPNs are commonly used globally to access restricted content and maintain online privacy.
Usage of VPNs surged in Pakistan in 2024, particularly after X, formerly Twitter, was blocked on February 19. According to Top10VPN, a VPN review website, the demand for proxy networks spiked by 131% following the block.
The PTA issued a statement debunking media reports that suggested the authority planned to block VPNs. Instead, the PTA encourages users to register their internet protocol (IP) addresses for VPN use to prevent potential disruptions in service for IT companies, software houses, freelancers, and banks.
The registration process is available through the PTA and PSEB websites, is free of charge, and takes about two to three days. The authority’s head had previously mentioned plans to regulate VPN use by whitelisting certain proxy networks and blocking others.
Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja addressed concerns last month, attributing internet slowdown to the increased use of VPNs, which she claimed was due to the public accessing certain apps. She assured that the state had not imposed any internet shutdowns or slowdowns.
A recent analysis by Bytes For All (B4A) indicated that VPN users in Pakistan experienced better download speeds and fewer disruptions, suggesting that VPNs might be circumventing ISP-imposed throttling or deep packet inspection (DPI) measures.
