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So, what’s at stake for Pakistan’s VPN users in 2025?

A long list of social media apps remain blocked at the time of writing, in fact.

Pakistan and India two flags together textile cloth fabric texture - stock photo

About six VPNs have reportedlydisappeared from India’s app storesso far for allegedly not complying with local rules. The 2022 data retention law seems to be the culprit behind this.

“Unregistered VPNs” became then the target.

In a recent report, the PTA has alsoblamed VPN usage for slow internet speedsacross the country.

Experts, however, have long argued that government-imposed censorship is the real culprit behind the slowdown.

Another India-like VPN exodus?

Such provisions mirror India’s controversialdata retention lawenforced in 2022.

At that time, the law provoked an exodus of VPN companies from India.

Surfshark sees PTA’s new directives as “a troubling development in restricting online freedom” in Pakistan.

“Citizens deserve secure, uncensored access to the global internet.

What’s certain, though, is that the public remains divided on the VPN matter.