Cannot block VPN usage, admits PTA

VPNs needed for some services in Pakistan, and blocking them would harm businesses, PTA officials say

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) officials have stated that the regulatory body was unable to block Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

The disclosure was made during a meeting of the Senate Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammadzai Khan held in Islamabad on Thursday.

During the briefing, officials from the Pakistan Software Export Board revealed that Pakistan’s share in the global IT market is less than 0.04%.

Despite this, the country experienced a 20% growth in IT last year.

The IT sector’s exports are primarily directed to the USA (54%), Europe (21%), and Gulf countries (10%).

Additionally, the board announced the launch of the iRozgar programme, aimed at creating job opportunities at a cost of one billion rupees.

The PTA’s Enforcement Member reported on disruptions to internet traffic caused by a cut in the SMW4 optical fibre cable near Karachi on June 18, 2024.

The issue has yet to be fully resolved, with ongoing work to repair it.

The AA-E1 submarine cable has also experienced problems, with repairs expected to be completed by August 27.

The PTA operates seven cables with an average capacity of 3.5 terabytes, which can reach 7.5 terabytes at night.

The PTA officials also noted that Twitter was blocked following instructions from the Ministry of Interior due to non-compliance with content regulations.

They also stated that without VPNs, certain services cannot be accessed in Pakistan.

The PTA cannot control or block all VPNs as doing so would negatively impact businesses.

The committee has requested a timeline for the repair of submarine cables and has adjourned the session until further notice.