Today is PTA’s date when blocking unregistered VPNs is due. PTA had asked to extend the deadline from November 30, but there has not been a reply till now.
The Ministry of Interior, according to PTA sources, is the decision vesting regarding VPN registration extension. There is still hope that the deadline will be extended according to PTA, but there is no confirmation at the moment.
The IT industry, freelancers, and other stakeholders have been raising voices for an extension in that regard as there are chances that it may lead to massive losses for the online working community. According to P@SHA, as a result of the VPN ban, the IT industry of Pakistan could lose well over $1 billion.
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So far registered over 27000 VPNs could “help improve the country’s cybersecurity” as PTA claims. It is worth mentioning that VPNs by default protect your cyber security and do not need extra registration to do their jobs.
However, the PTA insisted, that VPNs’ “essential registration will be required for national security and data protection.”
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The scheduled deadline that PTA initiated was on November 30 for registration of VPNs, implying that if not extended, then the operation against unregistered VPNs will be executed tomorrow.