On December 24, 2024, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) revealed a new regulatory framework for VPN services, aiming to regulate their usage more effectively and address issues with unregistered services. Local companies can now obtain licenses from the PTA to offer VPN services, with fees set at Rs300,000 for nationwide coverage and Rs100,000 for provincial services. Each license will be valid for 15 years and can be renewed.

This plan aligns VPN providers with other regulated telecom services, facilitating better monitoring and enabling users to choose their providers freely. IT experts believe this move could significantly benefit Pakistan's freelance industry by providing legal, regulated VPN options. In addition to licensing fees, providers must adhere to PTA guidelines to ensure secure and reliable services.

The government aims to enhance cybersecurity by monitoring VPN traffic without affecting user experience, marking a crucial step in modernizing Pakistan’s IT landscape and supporting its growing digital economy.