The use of virtual private networks (VPNs) has overloaded internet services in the country, officials of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom on Thursday.
PTA officials said they will block VPNs but businesses would suffer. The officials tried to argue that VPN usage had derailed internet services to the point that the entire infrastructure was suffering.
When asked by the committee about progress on re-instating normal internet services across the country, officials said one submarine cable is expected to be fixed by August 27, 2024, while another underground cable had malfunctioned. PTA officials were unable to provide a time frame on when the second cable would be fixed.
During the meeting, questions were raised about the recent X ban. PTA officials said the platform was blocked on the orders of the Interior Ministry when it refused to remove controversial content related to religious and communal violations. Despite the ban, the platform remains accessible via VPNs, which PTA officials admitted they cannot completely block without disrupting business activities.
A committee member criticized the inefficacy of such social media bans, noting that they only lead to public dissatisfaction and reputational damage.
