Can the Government Block VPN Services in Pakistan?
Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has received applications from two more companies seeking registration as VPN service providers. This comes after PTA had already issued licenses to two companies, with the registration process still ongoing.
According to sources, PTA is granting VPN provider licenses under the Class License for Data Services. The authority aims to register seven VPN service companies by May 2025, after which the government may decide to block certain VPN services based on specific criteria.
Currently, around 40 VPN services are operating in Pakistan. However, PTA officials have stated that the final decision on blocking any VPNs rests with the federal government. PTA clarified that it does not currently support a complete ban on VPN services.
It is noteworthy that the registration process for VPN service providers began in December 2024, and only companies obtaining a PTA license will be legally authorized to provide VPN services in Pakistan.
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