The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a “one window” operation to streamline the registration of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), aiming to support the legitimate, secure, and uninterrupted operations of businesses like software houses, call centers, freelancers, and foreign missions in Pakistan. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort involving the PTA, the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT), the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA).
Since 2020, the PTA has registered over 20,000 IP addresses for VPNs under this program. The registration process, now simplified through the one window operations, is accessible via the PTA and PSEB websites. This move comes amid growing concerns about the regulation of VPNs in Pakistan, especially after recent reports suggested a possible ban on these services.
Earlier in the month, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman addressed the Senate’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, confirming that the PTA was whitelisting VPNs through an automated process. This whitelisting ensures that only authorized VPNs will be accessible in the country, aiming to maintain the smooth functioning of IT services and online businesses. The PTA clarified that no blanket ban on VPNs had been implemented, and any blocking of services is carried out strictly under the directions of the government, following legal guidelines.
The PTA’s actions have sparked concerns within Pakistan’s IT sector and among internet users. Many have criticized the move, linking it to broader government efforts to control internet usage through mechanisms like a national internet firewall, which could filter out unwanted content. This criticism has been exacerbated by ongoing internet disruptions across the country, attributed to damage to a submarine cable that is not expected to be repaired until early October.
The slowdown in internet connectivity has been widely blamed on the purported testing of internet control measures, including the restriction of VPNs. The government, however, has pointed to the increased use of VPNs as a contributing factor to the slowdown, adding to the controversy surrounding internet freedom and access in Pakistan.
As Pakistan navigates these challenges, the balance between ensuring secure, legitimate business operations and maintaining internet freedom remains a contentious issue. The ongoing registration of VPNs under the PTA’s new framework will be closely watched, particularly by those in the IT sector who rely on uninterrupted and secure internet access for their work.
