Pakistan’s VPN Usage Spikes by 2380% Amid Tightening Internet Restrictions
Pakistan has seen a dramatic surge in VPN usage in the wake of tightening internet restrictions. Demand for VPN services began to rise on November 24th and was up 330% compared to normal levels. Popular VPN provider Proton VPN reported sign-ups that were up 730% on Monday and a staggering 2860% on Tuesday.
This comes after the government last weekend blocked WhatsApp ahead of planned anti-government protests. Two days prior, the authorities had also restricted access to Bluesky, a Twitter rival (formerly known as X). Popular social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp have remained blocked in many areas, even for those using VPNs.
By the end of November, VPN access in Pakistan may be threatened by new government regulations. According to a deadline issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), businesses and freelancers are required to register their VPN services by November 30th. The government also plans to ban commercial use of VPNs altogether, but the unregistered VPNs being used for purposes other than the approved ones such as education, banking, IT, and call centers have raised concerns.
Additional constraints were brought along by the controversy on November 15, when Pakistan’s religious spokesperson declared VPN use as “un-Islamic” and called for its ban. While this statement has been nullified as a mistaken declaration, the Ministry of Interior was the voice of the people and the debate in its echoing about VPN use within the country.
As the condition evolves, users in Pakistan could face further internet restrictions where VPNs would be seen as the only means for accessing content online.
