The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (retd) Hafeez-Ur-Rehman, has addressed the controversy surrounding the installation of a new firewall system. In a statement made during a heated session of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Information Technology, he clarified that the system in question is an upgraded version of the web management system initially introduced during the PTI government, not a new firewall as some had speculated.
Major General Rehman emphasized that the system, which was approved in 2019, is not intended to infringe on privacy. He reassured committee members that it does not have the capability to access private information from end-to-end encrypted social media platforms. He also noted that while VPNs are not being shut down, they will require registration.
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The PTA Chairman addressed concerns about internet speed, explaining that recent slowdowns were due to issues with fiber optic cables and the increased use of VPNs. He assured that internet speeds would be restored to their previous levels by August 27.
During the committee session, Chairperson Aminul Haque voiced concerns about public awareness and the need for transparency regarding internet disruptions. Opposition leader Umar Ayub questioned the potential reach of the system and the possibility of secret agencies blocking it without oversight. This led to a heated exchange with government member Zulfikar Bhatti, who objected to the intense scrutiny of the system’s purpose.
In summary, the PTA Chairman has made it clear that the system is an enhancement of an existing web management tool and is not a new firewall, aiming to manage gray traffic without infringing on privacy or internet freedoms.
