Are VPN Days Numbered in Pakistan?

The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block illegal Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) nationwide.

On November 15, the ministry sent a letter to PTA, expressing concerns that VPN’s are being misused.

The ministry also requested that PTA require VPN users to register by November 30, 2024.

Bilawal’s Strong Opposition on PTA to Block VPNs

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has criticized the government’s decision to restrict VPN use. Speaking to the media, he argued that the people making these decisions have little understanding of how the internet works. “They don’t know what a VPN is or why people use them,” he said. Bilawal also pointed out that his party was not consulted about the decision to block VPNs or regulate internet speed. “If we had been consulted, we could have offered a better perspective,” he added.

As the debate continues, it’s unclear whether the government’s move will succeed or face further pushback from critics and internet users.