The ministry of interior issued on Friday a letter to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), urging the immediate shutdown of illegal VPN services in the country.
The ministry’s directive highlights growing concerns over the misuse of unregistered VPNs for illicit activities, including terrorism and the spread of inappropriate content.
In the letter, the ministry of interior warned that "terrorists are using illegal VPNs," further stressing that these unregistered services are facilitating the illegal transfer of funds and access to banned content.
"Illegal VPNs are also being used for defamatory propaganda," the letter stated, referring to how these networks are being exploited to promote harmful material.
Additionally, the ministry noted that illegal VPN services have made it easier to access inappropriate content, such as obscene websites, which are otherwise restricted.
The letter emphasised that blocking these illegal VPNs and promoting legal, registered VPN services could mitigate these risks and ensure a more secure online environment.
"Immediate action should be taken to block all illegal VPNs and promote the use of legal VPNs," the letter urged.
