Ministry of Interior Orders Immediate Shutdown of Illegal VPN Services in Pakistan
Muhammad Naeem:
Islamabad: On Friday, the Ministry of Interior issued a directive to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), calling for the immediate shutdown of illegal VPN services across the country. This move is in response to rising concerns about the misuse of unregistered VPNs for illicit activities, including terrorism and the distribution of inappropriate content.
The ministry’s letter highlighted that “terrorists are using illegal VPNs,” allowing them to engage in the illegal transfer of funds and gain access to banned content. It also pointed out that unregistered VPNs are being exploited to spread defamatory propaganda and promote harmful material.
Additionally, the ministry noted that these illegal VPN services facilitate access to inappropriate content, such as restricted obscene websites. The directive stressed the importance of blocking these illegal VPNs while promoting the use of legal, registered VPN services to ensure a safer online environment.
“Immediate action should be taken to block all illegal VPNs and promote the use of legal VPNs,” the letter urged, underscoring the need for swift measures to mitigate the associated risks.
