Islamabad (Web Desk) National telecommunication regulator Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is planning to regulate the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) across the country.

Plans to prevent untampered networks

During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, PTA Chairman Major General Retired Hafeezur Rahman announced the government’s plans to whitelist VPNs to prevent the use of unauthorized networks in the country. 

“Only whitelisted VPNs will work and others will be blocked,” he said.

VPN usage on the rise, reason revealed

He revealed that only 30 percent of Pakistani users are accessing X through VPN and X usage has been reduced to 70 percent. However, after the ban on X, the demand for VPNs in Pakistan has increased.

Govt’s practical claim

The PTA chairman claimed that the authority will open the X platform when the government requests and gives permission. He also revealed that the X platform processed only 7 percent of complaints in the last three months.

X(former twitter) and practical actions of TikTok

Tik Tok has taken action on complaints and is most compliant with Pakistani laws. X, on the other hand, minimally complied with Pakistani laws. 

Minister of State Shaza Fatima Khawaja

A similar stance was shared by Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who said X was banned for non-compliance with local laws. The PTA chairman asserted that if certain posts and content violate Pakistani laws, the regulatory authority closes or bans the social media platform on the government’s direction. The PTA chairman also reiterated that the authority could ban or block controversial and anti-state content on social media platforms, Facebook or X, as it was not possible to block specific posts. 

What is Whitelisting?

Whitelisting is a process whereby citizens and organizations register themselves with an authorized regulator to use and access social media through VPNs. According to sources, VPN whitelisting can take two to three years as it is a thorough process. Similarly, Pakistan is putting up firewalls on the internet to filter content against laws, regulations and the state. Consumers are facing hurdles in accessing internet and social media.

Punjab Information Minister Announcement

Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari also expressed similar concerns for regulating social media to curb anti-state and malicious content online and to reduce digital terrorism.