The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced a strict deadline of November 30 for the registration of commercial Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), warning that non-registered VPNs would cease functioning thereafter. The announcement came during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom by PTA Chairman, retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman, on Monday.
Mr. Rehman clarified that the registration requirement applies only to commercial VPNs used by businesses and not to non-commercial VPNs, which are commonly employed by individuals to access restricted content. He stated that individuals “should not access unauthorised social media apps or websites through VPNs.”
The announcement prompted heated discussions, with lawmakers questioning the legal authority of PTA to block non-commercial VPNs. Senator Afnanullah challenged the legality of an Interior Ministry directive to block VPNs, arguing that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, does not authorise such actions. The committee has referred the matter to the Attorney General for legal clarity.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, also addressed internet disruptions affecting millions of freelancers in Pakistan. Senator Afnanullah criticised the PTA and IT Ministry for causing business losses and distress among users due to frequent outages.
The Council of Islamic Ideology’s (CII) recent declaration of VPN usage as un-Islamic further fuelled controversy. Lawmakers questioned the rationale behind the statement, calling it inconsistent and impractical, while some accused the CII of selectively targeting technology without addressing broader issues. PTA officials declined to comment on the matter.
In a separate development, the committee expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who missed her third consecutive meeting. Members decided to write to the Prime Minister, raising concerns about the minister’s inability to defend her ministry’s policies.
The Senate panel has called for an in-camera briefing on the VPN issue, inviting the Interior Secretary to provide further clarity on the implications of the PTA’s directives.
