Reports of VPN Access Restrictions and Throttling in Pakistan

VPNs are commonly used in Pakistan to access platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and other restricted websites. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had previously moved to clamp down on VPN usage in August, citing national security concerns and the need to block access to banned platforms, including X.

In September, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar explained that X was banned for national security reasons, accusing "separatists and terrorists" of using the platform against Pakistan. While the PTA had denied rumors of VPNs being blocked, many users reported disruptions on Sunday, claiming that VPNs were either throttled or completely inaccessible.

Outage tracking website Downdetector showed multiple reports of issues with VPN services like VPN Unlimited and TunnelBear, with most complaints related to connection failures. The site’s graph indicated a peak of 10 reports by 6:15 p.m. for VPN Unlimited, while TunnelBear users continued to report issues into the evening.

Some users turned to X to share information about VPN services still functioning in Pakistan, while others, including Dawn staff, experienced connectivity problems, though some VPNs remained operational for certain users.

Digital rights advocate Farieha Aziz told Dawn that she encountered significant problems connecting to VPN services like Cloudflare and Orbot, describing her internet connection as "very patchy." She criticized the throttling as "completely arbitrary," adding that no clear explanation had been provided by the PTA or government.

Usama Khilji, another digital rights activist, confirmed that many others reported similar issues. "This is in line with the state's plan to clamp down on VPNs and tighten censorship and surveillance," he said. "This will likely have a negative impact on businesses, particularly in tech and financial sectors."

Dawn has reached out to the PTA for comment on the ongoing disruptions.