Pakistan experienced a nationwide disruption of virtual private networks (VPNs) on Sunday evening. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) attributed the issue to a technical glitch. The disruption impacted a large number of users, particularly those relying on VPNs to bypass restrictions on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
The PTA clarified that the outage was not part of a wider government action but rather a technical malfunction. However, the incident led to concerns among users and prompted the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) to intervene. By Sunday night, VPN services were gradually returning to normal.
PTA Urges VPN Registration
In response to the outage, the PTA reiterated its call for the registration of VPNs. The authority emphasized the importance of commercial users allowlisted their IP addresses by registering their VPNs with the PTA. This measure aims to streamline VPN usage and ensure compliance with security protocols.
P@SHA, representing IT businesses in Pakistan, has been working to address these concerns. The association is in the process of encouraging IT companies to comply with VPN registration guidelines.
P@SHA Calls for VPN Registration Among Members
The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) issued a directive on Monday morning urging P@SHA to ensure that all IT firms and related businesses register their VPNs. In response, P@SHA announced a virtual meeting scheduled for Tuesday to guide its members in registering their VPNs.
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Sajjad Mustafa Syed, Chairman of P@SHA, explained that VPN use has increased significantly with the growth of IT businesses. Many companies rely on VPNs to provide secure connections to overseas clients. “All our members use professional VPNs with allowlisted IP addresses,” Syed said, adding that issues arise when professionals need to use private VPNs for remote work. P@SHA is also encouraging freelancers to form small companies to ensure their VPNs are registered. This would help avoid future restrictions and ensure smooth operations. Freelancers, who often rely on secure VPNs to connect with international clients, are a key part of Pakistan’s expanding IT sector.
Government’s Position on VPN Usage
The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) emphasized that VPN usage is permitted for legitimate purposes in various sectors, including banking, foreign missions, universities, and IT companies. However, the government is tightening regulations to prevent misuse and enhance security.
The PSEB also confirmed that the government’s new measures aim to curb misuse of VPNs while allowing legitimate users to continue accessing secure connections. The PTA has urged all entities, including IT companies, call centers, and freelancers, to register their VPNs promptly to avoid service disruptions.
Since 2020, approximately 20,000 VPN IP addresses have been registered in Pakistan. In August, the PTA launched a campaign asking various sectors, including IT firms, call centers, and foreign missions, to register their VPNs. However, the campaign saw limited success, with many businesses yet to comply with the registration guidelines.
Upcoming Awareness Campaign
To address the low registration rate, PTA sources revealed that the telecom regulator plans to launch an awareness campaign on VPN registration. The campaign will aim to educate users and businesses about the importance of registering VPNs and the potential consequences of non-compliance. PTA officials warned that unregistered VPNs may be disabled in the near future.
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