The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reportedly decided to introduce a new policy regulating the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) nationwide.
The PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman stated that only approved VPNs would function in Pakistan once the policy is implemented. This decision comes after a significant increase in VPN usage in 2024, mainly to access the blocked social media platform X (formerly Twitter). According to a report by Top10VPN, demand for VPNs increased by 131% on February 19, two days after X was blocked.
VPN provider Surfshark also reported a 300-400% increase in new user acquisition rates in Pakistan following the ban.
The PTA chief highlighted that the number of X users in Pakistan has decreased by 70% since the ban, with only 30% accessing the platform through VPNs. However, the high number of users bypassing the ban raises questions about its effectiveness.
The PTA head mentioned that a blanket ban on Virtual Private Networks would lead to the collapse of several IT businesses operating on VPNs. It is important to note that this is not the first attempt to regulate VPNs in Pakistan. Previous efforts, including a 2010 VPN regulation and a 2022 registration drive, have seen limited success.
