VPN use in Pakistan hits all-time high

The demand for Virtual Private Network (VPN) services has surged dramatically across Pakistan, more than tripling in recent days, following a sharp increase in social media restrictions.

According to an independent report by the VPN review website Top10VPN, the demand for VPNs rose by 102% on November 25, compared to the daily average over the previous 28 days.

The surge in demand escalated further on November 26, reaching 213% above the baseline. This sharp spike comes amid growing concerns over government restrictions on social media platforms ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned protests.

Reports have indicated that the government imposed additional restrictions, including limiting WhatsApp media sharing in anticipation of PTI demonstrations.

As a result, social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook have faced widespread disruptions, with users struggling to access these services without the aid of VPNs.