The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is set to introduce new regulations for VPNs usage in Pakistan, aiming to create a whitelist of approved proxy networks while blocking unauthorized ones. This development was revealed by PTA Chairman Maj General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman during a recent parliamentary committee meeting.
At the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat session, Rehman detailed that under the upcoming policy, only VPNs that are whitelisted will be allowed to operate within the country. All other VPN services will face restrictions.
The surge in VPN usage in 2024 has been notable, primarily driven by the need to access X (formerly known as Twitter), which has been banned in Pakistan since February 19. A report from Top10VPN, an independent VPN review site, noted a 131% spike in VPN demand just two days after the X ban. This spike highlights the growing reliance on VPNs for accessing restricted content.
Despite the high VPN usage, the PTA chairman reported a 70% drop in X’s user base within Pakistan, with only 30% of those users managing to access the platform through VPNs. However, X’s overall user numbers in Pakistan are relatively modest compared to other social media platforms. DataReportal estimated around 4.5 million X users in early 2024, suggesting that the VPN regulation could have broader implications for the IT sector, which heavily relies on these tools.
The PTA has previously attempted to regulate VPNs by implementing registration requirements. In 2022, the authority called on organizations, foreign missions, and freelancers to register their VPNs to prevent disruptions. Additionally, the PTA’s VPN regulations from 2010 have faced inconsistent enforcement.
Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, a member of the committee, emphasized that many social media platforms accused of breaching Pakistan’s security laws have agreed to set up local or virtual offices in the country. He pointed out that approximately 132 million Pakistanis use social media for business purposes, yet these platforms remain untaxed. Tarar proposed that social media revenues should be taxed in Pakistan, aligning with global practices.
Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hasan also voiced concerns about the taxation of cellular advertisements, while Senator Farooq H Naek recommended that the committee review both national and international legislation to propose measures that ensure public access to digital services.
As the PTA moves forward with its VPN regulations, the impact on both users and businesses will be significant, potentially reshaping how Pakistan engages with digital platforms and services.
