Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) recently announced the rescheduling of deadlines for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) registrations, which are scheduled for 30 Nov. This confirmation came from PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezul Rehman on Saturday and he would not commit the new deadline for registration.
“VPNs will not be blocked today, the PTA chief said, trying to calm down users worried about a complete disruption. However, the Interior Ministry has now decided on the extended deadline for the registration extension.
The extension comes on a request from Wispap, which urged the authorities to give more time for compliance.
Concerns Over VPN Crackdown
It has been criticized that the government’s stance against VPNs is discouraging foreign companies from outsourcing work to Pakistani freelancers. Pakistan is using VPNs for secure communication and global access to platforms in countries like IT, medical transcription, and education.
Critics claim that attacking VPNs will affect the freelancing sector and businesses online, which is a scary thought, especially when piled up against economic problems. The growing digital workforce in Pakistan contributes to the economy and restrictions will alienate this productive segment.
Implications for Governance and Economy
It coincides with debates on Internet freedom in Pakistan. There have been critics arguing that such a move creates more governance problems, leading to misuse; there are claims that corruption prevails in terms of enforcement, and further claims that restrictions of access to VPN will stain the digital economy image of Pakistan across the world.
Instead of imposing restrictions, stakeholders demand policies that promote secure digital practices, foster digital literacy, and encourage ethical online behavior. For now, however, the government’s move leaves many questions about the commitment to supporting digital innovation and economic growth.
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