We Can Block All VPNs But Businesses Will Suffer: PTA

Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (R) Hafeez Rahman on Thursday said virtual private networks (VPNs) could be blocked altogether across the country but such a step would hurt businesses.

Addressing the Senate Standing Committee on IT & Telecom today, the chairman said PTA has commenced the whitelisting of VPNs to prohibit unauthorized services from functioning in the country. He added that to date, X usage in Pakistan has fallen by 70 percent with just 30 percent of individuals accessing the app through VPNs.

He further noted that X has only acted on 7 percent of the PTA’s complaints in the past three months. He also said the decision to unblock X lies with the federal government.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the committee that any posts offending religious sentiments often lead to protests. He lamented that criticism of the government is more prevalent on platforms like YouTube and TikTok compared to X, but claimed that the government does not have any issues with criticism on social media.

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  • Why a Major General is running Pakistan Telecommunications Authority ?. We don’t have any Civilians left to act as telecom professionals. Why retired Generals are taking over the jobs of professionals?. What does he know about Telecom industry in general?

  • why not block all internet in this country so no busienss will run and army and gov does not have to be worried whats people saying to them.

  • general public should kill all politicians and no one will suffer… Country will be better in a year..

  • Actually PTA cannot block all VPN .. who ever told him that must be a less educated in the field of networking and security.

  • I lost it when chairman is fucking retard retired major general who knows nothing of technology just on army quota.

  • Just lok at this Ganja with dari, what is doing over here? Why is he not in barrack.

    Fk Napaak fauj.

  • No words required if we had name Chairman (PTA) Major General (R) Hafeez Rahman , they are everywhere and eat civilians jobs. Abe budhe nokri krli retire ho gaya to q ma behn aik krne dobara lag jate hain ye

  • pta chairman is retired general…..general sahib why forcing yourself on a civilian department which you have no clue about .

  • How about block the oxygen of citizens? Sary masly hal? Nai general saab? Acha Idea nahi laga?

    Mulla…

  • At a serious cross roads, is the statement that comes to mind when I see Pakistan and the steering of its technical organizations.
    This is the worst and most illogical statement being given by a person heading a technical organization. Does he even realize that Pakistan houses thousands of employees that work remotely for various organizations and that they rely on VPNs for secure and encrypted communication.
    Most importantly can anyone tell me if this chap has any real world experience, aside from living in a Military driven career ?

  • If government has no issue with the criticism open all the social media and then see what people do to them


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