THE debate around Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) has recently intensified across Pakistan.

What was once a niche technical issue has evolved into a critical national security concern. There is a growing consensus that unregulated use of these tools is directly enabling criminal activity. The facts underscore the urgency: the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has facilitated the registration of over 20,000 VPNs for legitimate businesses, yet reports indicate a significant spike in unauthorized use, often for accessing restricted content. This two-sided reality highlights a fundamental vulnerability: while VPNs are essential for secure operations, their unregistered counterparts are creating a “virtual safe haven” that empowers terrorist and extremist factions.

VPNs are powerful cybersecurity tools that establish a secure, encrypted tunnel for internet traffic. Legitimate users—including IT professionals and businesses—rely on registered VPNs for data protection and........

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