PTA Moves to Block VPNs in Pakistan Amid Surge in Demand. The development was disclosed by PTA Chairman Maj General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman during a recent meeting with the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat.
Hafeezur Rehman detailed that the new policy will permit only whitelisted VPNs to operate within Pakistan, blocking all unapproved services. This move comes in response to a sharp increase in VPN usage since February 19 2024, when Pakistan banned access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
A report by Top10VPN highlighted a 131% surge in VPN demand following X’s ban. Despite the increased usage, Hafeezur Rehman noted that the number of X users in Pakistan has dropped by 70%, with only 30% accessing the platform via VPN. X’s user base remains relatively modest compared to other social media platforms, with DataReportal reporting 4.5 million users in early 2024.
Hafeezur Rehman warned that a total VPN ban could severely impact Pakistan’s IT industry, potentially leading to the collapse of businesses that depend on VPNs. Past efforts to regulate VPNs through registration requirements have been largely unsuccessful, with enforcement proving inconsistent.
In 2022, the PTA had asked public and private sector organizations, foreign missions, and freelancers to register their VPNs to avoid disruptions. Additionally, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar suggested taxing social media revenues in Pakistan, aligning with practices in other countries. He noted that platforms accused of breaching Pakistan’s security laws have agreed to set up virtual offices in the country.
With around 132 million Pakistanis using social media for business, the absence of taxation has become a pressing issue. Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hasan raised concerns about taxes on cellular advertisements, while Senator Farooq H Naek called for a review of national and international legislation to ensure public access to digital services.
The PTA’s upcoming VPN regulation and the government’s push for social media revenue taxation reflect ongoing efforts to tackle digital platform challenges in Pakistan, striving to balance security and economic interests.
