Bilawal lashes out at govt for blocking VPN, restricting internet

PPP chairman says government claimed it was providing 4G service to public but internet speed is fragile that it seems 3G

Tech Desk - Nov 15, 2024

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto lashed out at the government of Pakistan for the VPN shutdown and deliberate attempts to impede internet speeds in the country.

“We have not been consulted regarding slowing down of internet speed, and closure of VPN. The decision makers don’t know about the ABC of VPN,” said Bilawal while addressing a media briefing.

He remarked that the government should elaborate on the freshly constructed internet regulations if it was part of the consultation on the VPN.

“Now is the age of internet speed, the government claimed it was providing 4G service to the public but the speed of the internet is fragile it seemed only 3G internet service is being provided,” stated the PPP chairman.

The government conducted a six-hour trial on Sunday (November 10), blocking over two dozen virtual private networks (VPNs) nationwide, a move aimed at tightening internet regulation.

According to a report published in The News, the temporary shutdown marked the first time a government firewall has had such a noticeable impact on internet users across the country.

This experiment affected both premium VPN services and local VPNs, causing disruptions for users who rely on secure, private networks to bypass restrictions or safeguard data.