Pakistan has taken its first steps to limit access to unregistered virtual private networks (VPNs), citing security concerns and misuse. On November 9, 2024, many Pakistanis found themselves unable to connect to their VPN services.
The disruption affected some of the most popular VPNs and caused widespread frustration. Although services resumed later that evening, authorities confirmed the outages were linked to a “technical glitch.”
However, officials have underscored the importance of registering VPNs to avoid future access issues.
Increased VPN Monitoring to Enhance Security
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced new guidelines in August 2024 to regulate VPN usage in Pakistan.
The government justifies the restrictions as a measure to address potential security threats from unauthorized VPN use, which could lead to data leaks or illegal activities.
Officials stress that only registered VPNs are approved for secure use, while unregistered ones are flagged as security risks.
The new regulations aim to prevent VPN misuse by ensuring that all VPN providers are registered and accountable.
By requiring registration, authorities believe they can maintain tighter control over internet activity and reduce cyber threats, particularly when sensitive government data is involved.
Pakistani Users Experience VPN Outages
On the day of the outages, VPN users across Pakistan reported difficulty accessing their services, limiting their ability to reach geo-restricted content.
After a long silence, the PTA responded, attributing the issue to a temporary glitch, and VPN services resumed by Sunday night. But the incident has raised concerns that such interruptions may become frequent as the government seeks tighter internet controls.
This brief outage led to a surge in downloads of alternate VPNs, especially Proton VPN, which reported a 350% increase in traffic.
The spike reveals the critical role VPNs play for Pakistanis, especially those who use these tools to access blocked platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), which has been inaccessible without a VPN since February 2024.
VPNs Remain Legal, But with Restrictions
While VPNs are still legal in Pakistan, their use comes with stipulations. Legally, VPNs are allowed for sectors like banking, foreign missions, corporate businesses, educational institutions, IT companies, call centers, and freelancers.
Companies and organizations in these sectors must register their VPN services with the PTA to ensure uninterrupted access.
By requiring registration, the PTA aims to maintain oversight of VPN usage across the country, targeting both security concerns and reducing misuse in non-registered sectors. Authorities warn that unregistered VPNs will face more frequent disruptions as the country steps up its internet control measures.
As of now, over 20,000 VPN IP addresses are officially registered with the PTA, and the government continues to urge unregistered users to follow suit. Failure to register could mean facing service outages in the future.
Tightening Grip on Internet Access in Pakistan
The recent VPN restrictions are part of Pakistan’s broader internet censorship policy. In 2024, Pakistan has seen an increase in digital censorship, leading to frequent blocks on social media platforms and other web content.
Experts believe this is one of the reasons for Pakistan’s overall decline in internet freedom and user access.
For instance, the timing of the VPN outage highlights an irony—only days prior, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used X to congratulate U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, despite Pakistan’s restricted access to the platform since February.
For many Pakistanis, such restrictions underscore the shrinking digital freedom in the country.
Alternatives for Pakistani Internet Users
With VPN restrictions tightening, experts recommend Pakistani users consider alternative ways to maintain their online privacy and access.
Having multiple VPN apps installed can provide backup if one service fails, while services like the Tor browser offer another route to secure browsing.
Tor, which encrypts traffic through multiple layers, might be a slower but more secure alternative for users aiming to bypass censorship and protect privacy.
However, users are cautioned that Tor’s high encryption could result in slower internet speeds, so it’s best used when privacy is the top priority rather than performance.
