The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is planning to regulate VPN usage in Pakistan by whitelisting certain proxy networks and blocking others. This move aims to control access to banned platforms like X (formerly Twitter), which has seen a surge in VPN usage since its ban in February.
PTA Chairman Maj General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman disclosed the plan during a parliamentary committee meeting, stating that only whitelisted VPNs will be operational in Pakistan. However, this move has raised concerns about its impact on the IT sector, which relies heavily on VPNs.
Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar suggested that social media revenues should be taxed in Pakistan, as they are in other countries. He noted that many social media platforms have agreed to establish offices in Pakistan, including virtual offices.
The committee discussed the need to study national and international legislation to propose measures ensuring access to digital services for the public.
#PTA #VPN #Regulation #Pakistan #ITsector #SocialMedia #Taxation
