IT firms, ISPs advise govt against ban on VPNs

Internet service providers (ISPs) and software houses have warned that restrictions on the internet and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) would become an “existential threat” and alienate segments of society. The statements have criticised the purge on VPNs — used by businesses and individuals — and the decision to ban unregistered proxies by the end of this month. Shahzad Arshad, the chairman of the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (Wispap), said: “It is essential to recognise that blanket restrictions or sweeping narratives around tools like VPNs risk alienating segments of society, particularly those who rely on these tools for entirely legitimate purposes, such as IT exports, financial transactions, and academic research.”