ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced an extension of the deadline for the registration of unregistered VPNs by an additional two weeks.
Sources confirmed that the new deadline for VPN registration will be November 30. From December 1, the PTA plans to initiate a crackdown on unregistered VPNs.
PTA officials revealed that a successful trial for VPN blocking has completed, with a second trial scheduled for the coming days. The PTA has emphasized that unregistered VPNs present a security risk, potentially granting unauthorized access to sensitive data.
In a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee, PTA Chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman clarified that VPNs are still operational in Pakistan and have not been banned. He highlighted that VPNs are crucial for the country’s IT industry, with ordinary citizens, freelancers, and businesses relying on them.
The PTA Chairman also noted that the VPN registration policy, initially introduced in 2016, has reactivated. So far, 25,000 VPNs have successfully registered under the new framework.
Additionally, the PTA Chairman disclosed that the authority has blocked over 500,000 immoral websites. Last Sunday alone, attempts were made by 20 million Pakistanis to access such sites.
