ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started blocking illegal and unregistered VPNs through a firewall.
VPNs are being blocked temporarily for their whitelisting as unregistered ones pose security risks.
According to sources, unregistered and illegal VPNs make illegal content accessible.
The PTA kicked off the registration of VPNs in 2010 and it has registered 20,500 VPNs. It says more than 1,422 companies have registered their VPNs and aim to accelerate whitelisting.
It says unregistered VPNs are blocked across the world including China, Russia, Iran, Turkiye, UAE, KSA and Qatar.
VPN use is only allowed for business purposes in some countries.
Users across Pakistan are facing disruption while accessing VPNs due to slow internet and social media connectivity from Sunday.
The PTA spokesperson has not responded to the issue so far.
VPNs are used to access banned apps and content and their use surges in Pakistan since the ban on social media site X.