The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has assured that it has no intention of banning Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in the country.
PTA made these remarks while reiterating commitment to fostering growth in Pakistan’s digital and IT sectors.
The clarification came during a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, where concerns were raised about potential restrictions on online access and digital privacy.
Media reports said that PTA officials agreed on wide usage of VPNs for legitimate purposes such as secure communication, data encryption, and accessing remote business networks.
They also agreed that imposing a blanket ban would not only be technically challenging and ineffective but could also harm businesses that depend on global digital connectivity.
Rather than restricting tools essential to modern communication, our priority is to support and expand Pakistan’s IT ecosystem, a PTA representative told the standing committee. He also outlined ongoing efforts to enhance digital infrastructure, attract foreign investment, and promote innovation across the tech sector.
This is not the first time when PTA has denied reports of a VPN ban.
Earlier in December, PTA Chairman Maj-Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehman had said that no VPNs have been blocked in the country.
“While we have the ability to block VPNs, we have no intention of doing so. In fact, we have extended VPN registration to mobile phone numbers as well,” he had said.
