The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has expressed growing concerns over the increasing use of illegal Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Pakistan, which has been linked to a significant slowdown in internet services across the country.
According to sources within the PTA, the rising trend in unregistered VPN usage is impacting network performance, due to which the authority has urged the Ministry of Information Technology to expedite the finalization of a long-pending VPN policy.
The PTA has recommended that the IT Ministry quickly finalize and implement a comprehensive VPN policy. It has also emphasized that the regulation of VPNs is not aimed at eliminating their use, but rather ensuring that they are registered and compliant with national regulations.
The sources noted that while VPNs are not banned, there is an urgent need to register them to discourage illegal and unregistered use, which has become increasingly prevalent among telecom users in Pakistan.
Millions of freelancers and IT companies across Pakistan rely on VPNs for their operations, making the issue of VPN registration crucial for maintaining the efficiency and security of the country's digital infrastructure. Sources within the PTA have clarified that registering VPNs will not harm users, as the primary goal is to protect personal data and ensure the secure use of these networks.
The PTA formulated a VPN policy long ago that addresses these concerns, but the policy has been awaiting approval from the IT Ministry. As internet services continue to slow down and unregistered VPN usage escalates, the PTA is increasingly pressing for the policy to be enacted.
"The approval of a VPN policy is inevitable and needs to happen soon to protect the interests of all stakeholders," said a source within the PTA, adding that registering VPNs will not harm users, but eventually benefit them. The authority has also reassured users that registered VPNs will not be affected by network firewalls and that their personal data will remain protected.
As the situation continues to evolve, the PTA remains committed to ensuring that Pakistan's internet infrastructure is safeguarded against the adverse effects of illegal VPN use while also protecting the privacy and security of its users. The final decision on the VPN policy now rests with the IT Ministry, whose approval is eagerly awaited by industry stakeholders.
