VPN registration compulsory for banks, IT firms, freelancers

Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has made VPN registration mandatory for banks, embassies, IT firms, software houses, and freelancers in a bid to ensure better data security and uninterrupted internet access.

The Pakistan Software House Association has demanded more time for consultations on unregistered VPNs.

A consultation meeting was held by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in Islamabad to discuss the registration process for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which was attended by representatives from various government institutions, including the Ministry of IT, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the State Bank of Pakistan.

Industry figures, including the CEO of the Pakistan Software Export Board, chairman of the Pakistan Software House Association (Pasha), and CEO of the Pakistan Freelancers Association, also participated in the discussions.

According to a statement, the meeting focused on the registration and facilitation process of VPNs. PTA emphasized the importance of VPN registration for securing data and maintaining seamless access to the internet for businesses and individuals.

During the meeting, stakeholders discussed the need for improving the VPN registration process while ensuring business continuity and maintaining a secure online environment. According to the statement, VPN registration was made mandatory for software houses, IT firms, banks, embassies, and freelancers.

All stakeholders in the meeting stressed the need to further improve the VPN registration process, ensuring business continuity and a secure internet.

However, Pasha voiced concerns over the implementation timeline, requesting additional time for consultation, particularly regarding unregistered VPNs. The association stressed the importance of allowing more time for stakeholders to comply with the new registration requirements.