The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has dismissed allegations that the widespread use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) is responsible for recent internet slowdowns across the country. The clarification was made during the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication meeting held on November 19.

The PTA’s stance contradicts earlier remarks made by IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja in August, where she attributed sluggish internet speeds to excessive VPN usage. PTA officials reiterated that VPN restrictions do not impact overall internet speed, encouraging users to report specific connectivity issues for targeted surveys.

The committee also reviewed PTA’s performance against its earlier deadline for improving internet speeds. PTA attributed past disruptions to damage in submarine cables caused by adverse weather conditions, which have since been repaired. The regulator highlighted that Pakistan is served by seven submarine cables, all of which are operational following necessary maintenance.

The IT Ministry shared that a draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill has been finalized and shared with stakeholders.

The meeting also delved into PTCL’s property leasing practices. Committee member Mukhtar Malik questioned the transparency of PTCL’s compliance with Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and raised concern about undervalued property transactions. PTCL representatives refuted claims of property sales, stating that the bids received did not meet reserve prices. However, the committee demanded a comprehensive briefing on PTCL’s property policies.