The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has strongly opposed the proposed blockage of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) from November 30, citing potential losses of $400 million in IT remittances. The committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, criticized the move as illegal, noting no law permits blocking such technology.
During Monday’s meeting, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) failed to provide a legal basis for the VPN restriction. The PTA revealed that the directive to block VPNs came from the Ministry of Interior, bypassing the MoITT. The committee expressed frustration over this opaque decision-making process.
The potential VPN ban threatens nearly one million freelancers who rely on these networks for secure access to international platforms. Senator Afnanullah highlighted that VPNs are not social media apps, questioning the Interior Ministry’s directive and urging the PTA to seek the Attorney General’s legal opinion on the matter.
PTA Chairman revealed that 25,000 VPNs have been registered under a policy initiated in 2016, asserting that registration could end internet disruptions in Pakistan. However, committee members questioned whether the PTA truly understood VPN technology, given the agency’s justification linking VPNs to social media access.
The Council of Islamic Ideology’s (CII) recommendation to block VPNs also came under scrutiny, with committee members ridiculing it as unreasonable. “If harmful content is the issue, why not ban television too?” quipped one senator, urging regulation instead of outright bans.
The committee also criticized nationwide internet disruptions, which hinder approximately 2.5 million freelancers’ ability to work. Senator Palwasha Khan condemned the repeated absence of the IT Minister and Secretary, accusing them of neglecting their responsibilities. The committee decided to escalate the matter by writing to the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, concerns arose over the selection criteria for the IT Secretary. Senators questioned why a candidate with only a bachelor’s degree was appointed, despite three PhD holders being shortlisted. This raised suspicions of favoritism in the process.
In another issue, PTA officials reported 24 pending court cases against Long Distance International (LDI) and Fixed Local Loop (FLL) companies involving Rs78 billion. Despite efforts to consolidate these cases, many have been stalled by stay orders since 2011. The committee urged swift resolution to recover the owed amounts.
The session concluded with calls for transparency, regulation over bans, and better accountability in IT sector governance.
