The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Tuesday made it clear that VPNs are not being blocked in Pakistan. There had been rumors circulating that the PTA was planning to block VPNs, but the authority has officially denied these claims.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that creates a secure and encrypted connection between a user’s computer and a remote server. This helps protect users' personal data, hides their IP address, and allows them to access websites and content that might be restricted.
Many people in Pakistan have been using VPNs more frequently recently. This increase in VPN use comes after the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), owned by Elon Musk, was blocked and due to ongoing internet disruptions. VPNs also help users get faster connections and quicker downloads.
In addition to these issues, Pakistan has experienced internet disruptions for several weeks. The PTA has attributed these problems to a “faulty” submarine cable and expects the situation to improve by early October. Critics, including those in the IT sector and social media users, have suggested that the disruptions might be related to testing a new internet firewall intended to control social media content.
The PTA assured the public that VPN services remain accessible despite the current internet issues.