The Interior Ministry of Pakistan has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block unauthorized Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) across the country, citing their misuse by terrorists to facilitate violent activities and access prohibited content, including pornography and blasphemy. This decision was communicated in a letter to the PTA on Friday, highlighting the growing exploitation of VPNs for concealing communications and conducting illicit activities.
However Multiple internet users in Pakistan reported on Friday they were experiencing “restricted access” to virtual private networks (VPNs).
VPNs, commonly used worldwide to access restricted content, have been under scrutiny in Pakistan. The PTA announced plans to restrict VPN usage to curb access to pornographic content, following a nationwide disruption that affected VPN functionality last Sunday. The authority reported blocking over 100,000 URLs with blasphemous content and 844,008 pornographic websites, noting that approximately 20 million daily attempts to access such content are blocked at the international gateway level.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony had previously urged the PTA to intensify efforts against blasphemous and pornographic content. The Interior Ministry’s letter emphasized the critical threat posed by unauthorized VPNs, noting Pakistan’s high ranking in accessing pornographic sites via VPNs. It requested the PTA to block illegal VPNs while ensuring legitimate users remain unaffected. VPN registration with the PTA is required by November 30.
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) also declared VPN use illegal, aligning with the government’s stance. CII Chairman Allama Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi stated that using VPNs to access immoral or illegal content is against Sharia law, supporting the government’s measures to block such access.
In response, the PTA has introduced a streamlined VPN registration process through an online portal, aiming to support IT companies, freelancers, and other stakeholders while maintaining a secure digital environment. This move is part of a broader crackdown initiated in August to block access to banned social media platforms, including X, due to national security concerns.
Digital rights activists have criticized these actions as attempts to enforce strict censorship and surveillance, but the PTA attributes recent VPN disruptions to technical issues and encourages users to register their VPNs to ensure uninterrupted access.
