The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially announced the VPN registration process under a “one window” operation. This initiative aims to facilitate the operations of software houses, call centers, freelancers, and foreign missions by ensuring their access to legitimate, secure, and uninterrupted services. The PTA’s statement emphasized that this is part of an ongoing effort, continuously streamlined in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT), the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA). Since 2020, over 20,000 IPs have been registered for VPN registration.
The PTA also confirmed that users can access VPN registration services through the PTA and PSEB websites. This announcement comes amidst concerns over a potential ban on virtual private networks. The PTA clarified that it is actively whitelisting VPNs through an automated process to ensure the smooth and secure functioning of IT services and online businesses.
During a recent Senate briefing, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman highlighted that only selected proxy networks will be available in Pakistan, assuring that no actions to block VPNs have been taken without government directives, which are implemented according to legal frameworks and guidelines.
Also Read: PTA Moves to Block VPNs in Pakistan Amid Surge in Usage
Furthermore, the PTA indicated that ongoing internet disruptions across the country may persist for over a month due to issues with the submarine cable, expected to be repaired by early October 2024. These disruptions have faced significant backlash from netizens and the IT sector, which attribute the internet slowdown to the government’s alleged testing of an internet firewall designed to filter unwanted content.
Also Read: PTA Admits Using Web Monitoring System for Blocking Online Content in Pakistan
The government has previously cited a surge in VPN registration and usage as a contributing factor to the internet slowdown.
