Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman has condemned the government’s recent actions to disable Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and reduce internet speeds, criticizing the lack of consultation in these decisions.

Speaking to the media, Bilawal pointed out what he perceived as a significant gap in the current administration’s understanding of VPN technology and broader internet governance issues. “The decision-makers don’t know the ABC of VPN,” he stated.

Bilawal further expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s claims of providing robust 4G internet service, contrasting it with the reality of the services provided. “The government claimed it was providing 4G service to the public, but the internet speed is so fragile it seemed only 3G service is being provided,” he commented. He noted that internet speeds have only further decreased, worsening connectivity issues nationwide.

The backdrop to these comments includes a series of complaints from numerous internet users across Pakistan on November 10, who experienced restricted access to VPNs and poor internet connectivity. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) responded by attributing the disruptions to a technical issue, rather than intentional blocking, while also emphasizing the necessity for all commercial VPN users to register their services.

On November 12, the PTA introduced an online portal designed to streamline the VPN registration process. This development was unveiled during a consultation session with stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication, the Pakistan Software Export Board, and the Pakistan Software Houses Association.