Ministry of Interior Orders PTA to Block Illegal VPNs in Pakistan

The Ministry of Interior has issued a directive to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block all unregistered and illegal Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) across Pakistan.

The letter, sent on November 15, 2024, highlights the government’s concerns over the misuse of VPNs for illegal activities and restricted content.

According to the ministry’s directives, illegal VPNs are reportedly being exploited for terrorist activities and for accessing pornographic and blasphemous content without detection.

The PTA recently conducted trials for VPN blocking, as intelligence agencies noted an alarming rise in terrorist incidents where VPNs were used to obscure communication, making it challenging for authorities to track and intercept suspects.

The Ministry of Interior’s crackdown means that only PTA-registered VPNs will be permitted, while unregistered VPNs will be blocked nationwide.

This is expected to have a significant impact on social media access, especially on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where many users in Pakistan rely on VPNs to bypass restrictions.

The government’s firm stance on VPN regulation aims to strengthen national security by ensuring that digital tools cannot be misused for criminal purposes.

Pakistani internet users are encouraged to transition to registered VPN services to avoid connectivity issues and support this initiative for a safer digital landscape.

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