Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman on Thursday dismissed claims of internet slowdowns in Pakistan, stating that no virtual private networks (VPNs) have been blocked so far. He made these remarks while addressing the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom in Islamabad.

The chairman announced that the PTA will begin licensing VPNs starting January 1, 2025, a move he assured would address existing concerns. “Licensing VPNs will help resolve all issues,” he said.

Responding to complaints from the committee regarding alleged policies to deliberately slow down internet speeds, the PTA chairman categorically denied the existence of such a policy. He added that if such measures were in place, the PTA was not responsible, and the matter should be directed to the federal government.

The IT Secretary, present at the meeting, clarified that internet services are only suspended in cases of national security concerns.

Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and IT Enabled Services (P@SHA) highlighted the economic impact of internet disruptions on the IT industry. He noted that frequent internet shutdowns result in significant financial losses, with an estimated $910,000 lost for every hour of disruption. He also suggested establishing VPN service providers, pointing out that monitoring VPNs is a common practice globally.

The discussion underscored the need for a balanced approach to internet regulation, ensuring national security while minimizing disruptions to the IT sector and the broader economy.