The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology has expressed strong displeasure over the closure of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Pakistan, highlighting the adverse impact on freelancers and businesses. During the committee meeting, Chairperson Palwasha Khan raised concerns about the potential for political unrest if millions of affected freelancers began to protest the situation. She announced that the committee would take immediate steps to resolve the issue and would draft a letter to the prime minister, emphasizing the importance of the matter.
Senator Afnanullah Khan pointed out that there are over a million freelancers in the country, warning that VPN restrictions could lead to widespread unemployment. He called for a solution that preserves jobs while addressing security concerns.
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The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman, Maj Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehman, briefed the committee, stressing the importance of VPNs for the IT industry and explaining that the authority had resumed VPN registrations. He reported that 25,000 VPNs have been registered, ensuring companies on the whitelist will not face disruptions. He also mentioned that the PTA had blocked over 500,000 obscene websites, citing that 20 million people had accessed such content in a week.
The committee questioned the relationship between VPN restrictions and moral concerns, calling it a misuse of religious rhetoric. Senator Afnanullah argued that the decision to block VPNs falls under the IT Ministry’s jurisdiction, questioning why the Interior Ministry had been involved.
Senator Kamran Murtaza expressed frustration over the ongoing internet shutdowns, particularly in Balochistan, labeling the disruption as a violation of human rights. He called for an immediate resolution to the issue, which has been persistent since February 17.
Committee members debated how to balance curbing indecent content with ensuring internet freedom, criticizing selective restrictions, such as allowing TikTok while blocking other platforms. They urged better coordination between the Ministry of IT, the Ministry of Interior, and the PTA to address these issues without disrupting the livelihoods of those dependent on VPN access.
In closing, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of the State Minister for IT at the meeting, which they felt reflected poorly on the ministry’s responsiveness to critical issues. The committee plans to seek responses from the Ministry of Interior in the next meeting, aiming to strike a balance between security concerns and the needs of Pakistan’s IT industry and freelancers.
