The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a new portal for registering Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), aimed at boosting security in the country’s expanding IT and e-commerce sectors. The registration process is divided into four categories: companies, freelancers, call centers, and video conferencing users, with each group requiring specific documentation.
For companies, applicants must submit their CNIC along with proof of incorporation or active taxpayer status. Freelancers need to provide their CNIC and a letter from their employer confirming their status. Call centers must submit the CNIC, proof of incorporation or active taxpayer status, a registration certificate from the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and, if applicable, a fee for registering five or more IP addresses. Video conferencing users must provide their CNIC, an incorporation letter or official documentation from government or company authorities, and a fee for registering five or more IP addresses.
The PTA’s online portal allows applicants to register VPNs or request IP whitelisting. While VPN registration itself is free, a fee is required for whitelisting five or more IP addresses.
In related developments, sources suggest that the federal government is considering extending the VPN registration deadline until December 2024. This follows resistance from various stakeholders regarding the current deadline of November 30. The extension request comes as the move to block unregistered VPNs, scheduled for December 1, could severely impact Pakistan’s growing freelance sector, which contributes around $400 million annually to the economy.
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has raised concerns, calling the proposed VPN ban “illegal” as no law specifically allows for such a measure. The Committee has warned of significant economic consequences, particularly the potential loss of millions in IT exports. The Ministry of Information Technology and the PTA’s attempts to justify the November 30 deadline have been met with skepticism, as the Senate Committee remains concerned about the potential harm to Pakistan’s IT sector.
Since its inception in 2016, the PTA has registered over 25,000 VPNs. The authority claims that the registration process has been simplified for businesses, including software houses, call centers, banks, embassies, and freelancers, who can complete the procedure online by submitting necessary information via the PTA’s website.
