ISLAMABAD: The deadline set by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for VPN registration is today. While PTA had requested an extension until November 30, no response has been received as of yet. The Ministry of Interior holds the authority to approve any extension, but as of now, no official confirmation has been made.

The IT industry, freelancers, and various stakeholders have raised concerns, urging for the deadline to be extended, citing significant potential losses to the online working community. According to the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), Pakistan’s IT sector stands to lose up to $1 billion due to the potential impact of the VPN ban.

As of now, over 27,000 VPNs have been successfully registered, with PTA claiming that these registered VPNs will help improve cybersecurity in the country. However, experts argue that VPNs naturally protect cybersecurity and do not require extra registration. Despite this, PTA maintains that registration is crucial for national security and data protection.

If the deadline is not extended, PTA is set to begin blocking unregistered VPNs starting tomorrow. The surge in VPN usage has been notable, with usage increasing by over 2,380% during the internet blockages.

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