VPN Demand Surges in Pakistan Amid Social Media Restrictions

ISLAMABAD: The demand for virtual private networks (VPNs) in Pakistan has more than tripled following increased restrictions on social media platforms across the country.

According to data from Top10VPN, an independent VPN review website, VPN usage in Pakistan spiked by 102% on November 25, compared to the daily average over the preceding 28 days. The demand soared even higher on November 26, reaching 213% above the baseline.

The surge coincided with reports of authorities restricting WhatsApp’s media-sharing functionality ahead of protest demonstrations by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Popular platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, faced disruptions, as reported by Downdetector.com, a website tracking outages on digital services.

Citizens have voiced frustration over the lack of an official explanation for the access issues. While the government had indicated plans to disrupt internet services in areas with security concerns, it has not commented directly on social media restrictions.

Many users have turned to VPNs to access platforms, but slow internet speeds pose additional challenges. Several cities in Punjab, including Multan, Rajanpur, Gujrat, and Dera Ghazi Khan, have reported widespread internet disruptions, with residents struggling to access online services.

The rise in VPN demand reflects growing public reliance on these tools to bypass restrictions and maintain connectivity, even as authorities continue to impose measures ostensibly for security purposes.