ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman on Monday acknowledged the importance of virtual private network (VPN), saying that industry cannot function without it.
The PTA chairman made the remarks while briefing the Senate standing committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications as the regulatory authority, earlier today, extended the deadline for the registration of VPNs until November 30.
The extension came rising concerns over the misuse of unauthorised VPNs for activities such as bypassing internet restrictions and accessing prohibited content.
Briefing the Senate body, the PTA chairman urged people associated with IT business to register their VPNs to avoid any inconvenience.
The PTA chairman was of the view that the “common man needs VPN” amid the looming ban on the private gateways.
“Freelancers and companies required VPNs.”
VPN registration policy was introduced in 2016, he told the lawmakers, adding that they recently launched a campaign in this regard.
“Internet will never be shut down if VPN is registered.”
The PTA chairman said: “Whenever the internet has to be shut down, the industry suffers.”
He apprised the lawmakers that 25,000 VPNs have been registered so far, adding that the PTA had blocked over 0.5 million obscene websites.
Stressing the need for registration of illegal encrypted networks, the PTA chairman said: “20 million Pakistanis attempted to access obscene websites last Sunday.”
It is pertinent to mention here that the “virtual tunnel” is widely used to access content that may be inaccessible or blocked for internet users.
“VPN are not blocked so far in the country,” he added.
Last week, the Interior Ministry asked the PTA to block “illegal VPNs” across Pakistan, citing their use by terrorists to “facilitate violent activities” and to “access pornographic and blasphemous content”.
For his part, legal member from the IT Ministry apprised the lawmakers that they were not asked about the VPN shutdown.
At this, PML-N Senator Afnan Ullah asked if VPN issue can be dealt under Peca Act. The legal member, however, replied in negative.
The senator asked if VPN is a “tool, then how can the interior ministry can give instructions in this regard”.
The legal member told the Senator that it makes access to social media possible.
“Law does not allow you to block VPNs,” remarked the senator.
To another query about internet shutdown in Balochistan, the member said: “Internet of white-listed companies will never be shut down. The PTA chairman said that internet services in the province were suspended on the request of Interior Ministry in the backdrop of a security operation.
The lawmakers expressed their displeasure over the interior ministry’s directions, saying that “Then, smartphones, computers and other devices should also be shut down.”
Starting from December 1, the PTA will initiate a nationwide crackdown on unregistered VPNs, said sources.
A successful trial of VPN blocking has already been conducted, and a second trial is planned in the coming days to ensure readiness for the full-scale shutdown, they added.
How to register VPN?
Entities such as software houses, call centres, banks, embassies and freelancers can now easily register their VPNs online through the PTA’s official website: www.pta.gov.pk.
The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) members can also avail this facility.
Registration involves completing an online form and providing basic details, including CNIC, company registration details and taxpayer status.
Freelancers must submit documentation, such as a letter or email, verifying their project or company association.
Additionally, applicants must provide the IP address for VPN connectivity. If a fixed IP address is required, it can be acquired from an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
The registration process is free, and approvals are typically granted within 8-10 hours of submission. To-date, more than 20,000 companies and freelancers have successfully registered their VPNs through this process.
Any individual requiring a VPN for commercial purposes can apply under the ‘Freelancer’ category and needs to provide the required information, including supporting evidence from the employer.
The VPNs are widely used globally to bypass restricted content and safeguard user privacy.
Reports suggest that Pakistanis make up to 20 million daily attempts to access blocked explicit content using unregistered VPNs, despite government restrictions.
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