Reports indicate that Pakistanis are making up to 2 million daily attempts to access blocked explicit content via unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), despite the government’s efforts to restrict such access. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been working to block over 844,000 immoral websites and 100,000 offensive URLs in a bid to curb access to inappropriate material.
As many individuals rely on unregistered VPNs to bypass these blocks, complaints about slow VPN speeds have risen. In response, the PTA has intensified its efforts to block unregistered VPNs, citing concerns about security risks and the potential for unauthorized access to illegal content. They are also working to expedite the registration process for authorized VPNs and are temporarily restricting certain services to encourage compliance.
The PTA’s measures aim to balance security with access to legitimate services. Since the registration of VPNs began in 2010, more than 20,000 have been registered across 1,422 companies, but further efforts are being made to accelerate the process. Meanwhile, disruptions in free VPN services have raised concerns about secure browsing.
Additionally, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged the PTA to block access to harmful content, stressing its negative impact on public morality. The PTA has blocked millions of URLs carrying anti-Islamic, immoral, and blasphemous content.
