Major General (R) Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has clarified that no directives have been issued to suspend mobile services nationwide yet.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the PTA Chairman confirmed that the telecommunication infrastructure remains unaffected by any potential shutdown plans. This clarification comes amid speculation about possible service interruptions in the wake of planned protests in Islamabad.
VPN Registration Simplified for Users
In his briefing, Hafeez-ur-Rehman also highlighted the availability of clear guidelines for Virtual Private Network (VPN) registration on the official PTA website. The process caters to both businesses and individual users, ensuring compliance with Pakistan’s cybersecurity regulations.
The registration procedure aims to streamline legitimate VPN usage, enhancing internet security while preventing unauthorized access. Individuals and organizations can follow the step-by-step instructions available online to register their VPNs seamlessly.
Concerns Over Internet Suspension Amid Protests
Earlier reports suggested the federal government was considering partial internet and mobile service disruptions in response to anticipated protests in Islamabad. Sources indicated that such measures could affect Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa starting November 23.
These disruptions were speculated to include activating the national firewall, a measure designed to monitor and control internet traffic for security purposes.
PTA’s Assurance of Service Continuity
Despite these reports, the PTA Chairman firmly stated that no outages are planned “as of now.” This assurance provides relief to millions of users across the country who rely heavily on uninterrupted internet and mobile services for communication, business, and daily activities.
The situation remains fluid, with updates expected depending on the security environment in the coming days. Users are advised to stay informed and monitor announcements from PTA or relevant government authorities.
