Federal Govt Expected to Extend VPN Registration Deadline

Islamabad: The federal government is expected to extend the deadline for registering Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) until the end of December 2024.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has requested an extension of the current deadline for VPN registration, which is November 30th, 2024. This decision was made in response to significant pressure, sources told TechJuice.

From November 30th, there is a possibility that VPN blockages could impact approximately one million freelancers, who collectively generate an estimated $400 million in economic output. Stakeholders have advocated for a simplified registration process and an extension of the registration period.

The Ministry of Interior had previously instructed the PTA to ensure that all VPNs are registered by the end of November. Additionally, the PTA had declared that VPNs that were not registered would be prohibited commencing December 1st, 2024.

Fearing a loss of millions of dollars in IT remittances as a result of the proposed VPN barring, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication declared it unlawful, as it was not permissible to block an application.

The Committee’s proposed suspension of VPN from November 30th was not satisfactorily addressed by the Ministry of Information Technology or the PTA.

PTA argued that the registration of VPNs would prevent internet shutdowns in Pakistan. Under a policy that was initially implemented in 2016, the PTA has already registered over 25,000 VPNs. The registration of VPNs would alleviate all internet-related issues for enterprises in Pakistan.

The process of registering VPNs for enterprises and freelancers has been simplified, as announced by the PTA. Software houses, contact centers, banks, embassies, and freelancers are now able to register their VPNs through the PTA’s official website, as per a statement released by the organization.

The statement also indicated that this facility is available to members of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). PTA clarified that applicants must submit a fundamental set of information and complete an online form to complete the VPN registration.