PTBP Web Desk
On Sunday, several internet users in Pakistan reported experiencing “restricted access” to virtual private networks (VPNs) and poor internet connectivity, with outages affecting services like VPN Unlimited and Tunnelbear. Downdetector, a popular outage-tracking website, recorded a spike in outage reports, particularly from users of these VPN services. By 6:15 PM, VPN Unlimited users had reported issues, and Tunnelbear users continued to face disruptions until as late as 7:29 PM.
The problems were severe enough that many users took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to share their experiences and to warn others about slow VPN speeds, with some users claiming VPNs were entirely inaccessible. VPNs are crucial for Pakistani internet users, especially for accessing X, which remains banned in the country, along with other restricted websites.
In August, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) escalated its efforts to limit VPN usage in the country, particularly aiming to block access to platforms like X. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar justified the ban on X, stating that it was implemented for national security reasons, claiming the platform was being used by “separatists and terrorists.” Tarar emphasized, however, that the restriction was not an attempt to limit freedom of expression.
Despite earlier claims by the PTA denying that VPNs were being blocked, issues with restricted access have continued. In a technical analysis released by Bytes For All (B4A), a digital rights group, it was revealed that VPNs provided significantly better internet speeds and fewer disruptions for Pakistani users compared to non-VPN connections. This report highlighted how VPNs improved download speeds and reduced retransmission rates, underscoring their importance for accessing online services.
The surge in VPN use followed heightened restrictions on social media platforms in Pakistan, with a significant increase in demand for VPN services. According to VPN providers, traffic from Pakistan spiked drastically during the disruptions. For example, demand for services like Nord Security and ExpressVPN surged by as much as 400%, reflecting the growing dependence on these tools for internet access and privacy.
While the PTA attributed the outage to a “brief glitch,” many digital rights activists see it as part of a broader trend to curb internet freedoms in Pakistan. These outages have had far-reaching effects, disrupting businesses that rely on VPNs, such as software firms and call centers, and raising concerns about the broader implications for Pakistan’s tech and finance sectors​
As these issues continue, there is growing uncertainty about the future of VPN access in Pakistan, with users and activists fearing that the government may be taking more aggressive measures to control online access.
