The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has addressed recent media reports claiming that VPNs are being blocked in the country. The PTA clarified that VPNs are not being blocked and that users should register their IP addresses to ensure uninterrupted service.
VPN usage in Pakistan has surged following the ban on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in February. A report by Top10VPN highlighted a 131% increase in VPN demand shortly after the ban. The PTA has encouraged businesses, including IT companies and banks, to register for smooth access, with the registration process being free and typically completed within two to three days.
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Despite earlier plans by the PTA to regulate VPNs by whitelisting certain networks, no immediate measures to block them have been implemented. Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja also commented on the situation, indicating that the rise in VPN usage has caused some slowdown in services but that there has been no state-imposed internet shutdown or significant throttling.
A digital rights group, Bytes For All, found that VPN users last month experienced improved download speeds and fewer disruptions, suggesting that VPNs might be helping bypass any potential throttling by internet service providers.
