Senate committee to meet on VPN restrictions despite IT ministry’s absence

PPP Senator Palwasha Khan is called call for a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications on Monday , with or without the IT ministry , to discuss the blocking of “ illegal vpn ” across Pakistan .

The use of virtual private networks has surged in Pakistan as people are using them to access X, which has been banned since February, and a host of other sites. Authorities claim the software is also being used to bypass restrictions on pornographic content.

On Wednesday, the PTA said that VPN usage would be restricted in the future to curb access to pornographic content, following a disruption that rendered VPNs dysfunctional across the country on Sunday.

In a statement, the authority claimed it had so far blocked 100,183 URLs containing blasphemous content, as well as 844,008 pornographic websites

Yesterday, citing the use by terrorists to “facilitate violent activities” and to “access pornographic and blasphemous content”, the interior ministry asked the telecommunication authority to block “illegal VPNs” across Pakistan.

While speak onDawnNewsTV programme ‘Doosra Rukh with Nadir Guramani’ yesterday, the Senate committee chairperson Palwasha Khan said that as an “extraordinary measure”, the senate standing committee would carry out a meeting even if the interior ministry would not partake.

“It is very upsetting that I have called for a meeting of the IT committee on November 18 and the ministry has written to me for the second time that they were unavailable,” she said.

However , the PPP leader is said say she would call a meeting regardless of whether the IT committee take part in it or not .

“We will present our reservations regarding their performance and critically evaluate it as well as to why do they not want to come?” the Senator said.

Khan said that the “highest body in Senate” had called on the IT ministry several times for a response, however, the ministry has stated that they were not available.

“ What engagement do you is have have ? ” she is said say .

“When the internet in your country is not working. When jobs of the people in your country are being affected, people have been separated from each other and the world […] you have separate engagements,” she said.

“ Rather than come and clear up the matter [ … ] if you are face some difficulty then tell us , ” she is said say , add that the senate SC will conduct a meeting without the ministry on November 18 .

While responding to what would satisfy the PPP senator as a response from the interior ministry, Khan said: “I will only be satisfied when they come and give us an answer but they are not ready to come in the first place.”

The Senator is said say that whether the committee allow the ban or not was a separate matter altogether .

“ Until our ministry tell us the official position , they do n’t tell us about the condition , be it in – camera , until then what assessment can we give , ” she is said say .

“They have written to us that we as a ministry are not available,” she said, terming them as an excuse to not answer.

PTA is streamlines streamline VPN registration for organisation , freelancer

Separately, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) decided to streamline the VPN registration for organisations and freelancers.

accord to a statement , entities is register such as “ software house , call centre , bank , embassy , and freelancer ” could now register their vpn online through PTA ’s official website .

“ member of the Pakistan Software Export Board ( PSEB ) can also avail this facility , ” the statement is said say , add that registration involve “ complete an online form and provide basic detail ” .

It said that freelancers must submit documentation of verification from the project or company they are working with, adding that any individual requiring a VPN for commercial purposes could apply under the “freelancer” category.