PTA plans measures to block VPNs in Pakistan amid rising usage

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has revealed measures to regulate virtual private networks (VPNs) in Pakistan.


PTA Chairman Maj General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman informed the situation during a recent meeting with the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat.

Rehman added that the new policy would only allow whitelisted VPNs to operate in Pakistan, while prohibiting all others.

This decision follows a rise in VPN usage since February 19, when Pakistan prohibited access to the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter).

Top10VPN, an independent VPN review website, reported that demand for proxy networks increased by 131% following the X ban.

The PTA chairman claimed that, despite the increased VPN usage, the number of X users in Pakistan has plummeted by 70%, with only 30% currently accessing the platform using VPN. However, X’s user base remains relatively tiny compared to other social media sites, with DataReportal reporting 4.5 million users in early 2024.

Rehman warned that a complete ban on VPNs might have serious consequences for Pakistan’s IT industry, potentially leading to the failure of multiple enterprises that rely on VPNs to operate.

Previous attempts by the government to regulate VPNs through registration requirements have met with minimal success.

In 2022, the PTA demanded that public and commercial sector organizations, foreign missions, and freelancers register their VPNs to avoid interruptions, but implementation has been patchy.

Furthermore, at the committee meeting, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar proposed that social media income be taxed in Pakistan, just as they are in other countries.


He pointed out that platforms accused of breaking Pakistan’s security regulations had agreed to open virtual offices in the nation.

With about 132 million Pakistanis utilizing social media for economic purposes, the lack of taxation has become a major worry.

Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hasan voiced concern over cellular marketing fees, while Senator encouraged committee members to research national and international legislation before proposing measures to protect public access to digital services.

The PTA’s plans to regulate VPNs, as well as the government’s focus on collecting social media earnings, indicate continuous efforts in Pakistan to handle the difficulties brought by digital platforms while balancing security concerns and economic interests.