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PTA Extends VPN Registration Deadline, Crackdown to Begin in December
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) gives users another two weeks to register unregistered VPNs. A crackdown will begin on December 1.
ND
by News Desk
2024-11-18
PTA Extends VPN Registration Deadline, Crackdown to Begin in December

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has granted an additional two weeks for the registration of unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), pushing the deadline to November 30. The PTA has warned that a crackdown on unregistered VPNs will commence on December 1, 2024.

Sources close to PTA revealed that a successful trial was conducted for the closure of unregistered VPNs, and a second trial is scheduled in the coming days. The PTA has emphasized that unregistered VPNs pose significant security risks as they could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive data.

In a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee, PTA Chairman Hafeez ur Rehman highlighted the ongoing need for VPNs in Pakistan, especially for the IT industry, freelancers, and businesses, stating that "VPN is still running in Pakistan and cannot be stopped as it is essential for the IT sector." He clarified that while the use of VPNs is crucial, it is the unregistered ones that pose security threats.

The PTA introduced the VPN registration policy in 2016 and has successfully registered over 25,000 VPNs as part of its ongoing registration process. Additionally, the PTA has undertaken significant actions to block immoral sites, blocking over 500,000 such websites. The chairman noted that, just last Sunday, two million Pakistanis attempted to access immoral content online.

With the December 1 deadline approaching, users are urged to ensure that their VPNs are registered with the PTA to avoid disruptions in service and potential legal consequences.
Tagged:

PTA

CyberSecurity

PakistanTelecom

DigitalSafety

VPNRegistration
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