The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is set to implement a plan to regulate Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) within the country, according to PTA Chairman, retired Maj General Hafeezur Rehman. Speaking at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, Rehman revealed that the authority intends to whitelist certain VPNs while blocking others.
The move comes in response to a significant rise in VPN usage following the ban on X, formerly known as Twitter, which has been inaccessible in Pakistan since February 19, 2024. Local internet users have increasingly turned to VPNs to bypass the restrictions and access the platform.
A report by independent VPN review website Top10VPN highlighted a 131 per cent surge in demand for proxy networks on February 19, two days after the ban on X. Surfshark, a prominent VPN provider, reported a dramatic increase in new user registrations in Pakistan, with figures soaring between 300pc and 400pc immediately following the ban.
Despite these numbers, Rehman asserted that the ban on X has been largely effective, with a 70pc reduction in the platform’s user base in Pakistan. He estimated that only 30pc of X users are currently accessing the site via VPNs.
According to DataReportal, Pakistan had approximately 4.5 million X users at the beginning of 2024. The impending VPN regulations could have significant ramifications for the country’s IT sector, which relies heavily on these networks for various operations.
When questioned about the potential impact of a comprehensive VPN ban, Rehman acknowledged that such a move could cripple numerous IT businesses. “Blocking VPNs entirely would lead to the collapse of several IT businesses that depend on these networks,” he warned.
This is not the first time the Pakistani government has attempted to regulate VPN usage. Previous efforts, including a 2022 initiative to register VPNs used by public and private sectors, foreign missions, and freelancers, as well as regulations introduced in 2010, have failed to yield significant results.
In a related discussion, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar addressed the committee about the need to tax social media platforms operating in Pakistan. He noted that these platforms, which are used by approximately 132 million Pakistanis for business purposes, are currently outside the country’s tax net. Tarar emphasised that social media revenues are taxed globally and suggested that Pakistan adopt similar measures.
Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hasan and Senator Farooq Hamid Naek echoed these concerns, advocating for a comprehensive review of national and international legislation to ensure fair taxation and access to digital services for the Pakistani populace.
