Pakistan Government Blocks Unregistered VPNs Citing Security Concerns

The Pakistan government has begun blocking unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as part of a firewall trial. According to sources within the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), unregistered VPNs are considered a security risk as they can provide access to sensitive information.

The PTA has called on businesses, including IT firms, software companies, freelancers, and banks, to register their IP addresses to maintain authorized VPN access. This registration process requires users to specify their business activities and intended use of VPNs to ensure uninterrupted service.

Since launching the VPN registration initiative in 2010, the PTA has registered approximately 20,500 VPNs. In Pakistan, VPNs are commonly used to access restricted content, including platforms like X (formerly Twitter), which has been banned for several months. The government has stated that the ban on X will continue until the platform registers in the country.

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To streamline this process, the PTA recently introduced a one-window operation to assist businesses in IP and VPN registration, aiming to support uninterrupted operations across sectors.