What's blocked in Pakistan
Major VPN apps have been disrupted since December 2025, and internet was cut in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when emergency rule was imposed on 11 October 2026.
- WhatsApp: Works
- Voice & video calls: Works
- Telegram: Works
- Signal: Works
- Discord: Works
- Facebook: Works
- Instagram: Works
- X (Twitter): Works
- TikTok: Works
- YouTube: Works
- Google: Works
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
| App | Status | Since | Notes | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluesky | Blocked | Nov 2024 | How to unblock | |
| Tinder | Blocked | Sep 2020 | Blocked with Grindr, Tagged, Skout and SayHi over "immoral" content. | How to unblock |
Not offered in Pakistan
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
- Disney+
- HBO Max
- Hulu
- BBC iPlayer
- JioHotstar
- PayPal
- Peacock
- BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India)
Working normally
Chat & calls
Social media
Video, TV & music
Games
Privacy & tools
The 3 VPNs that fit Pakistan
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Pakistan are reporting this week.
Picked for heavy censorship: each can disguise VPN traffic.
ExpressVPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Reported among the disrupted apps in December 2025; keep the protocol on Automatic.
NordVPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
NordVPN recommends the NordWhisper protocol; obfuscated servers also help on some ISPs.
Proton VPN
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Proton confirmed its apps were restricted from 22 Dec 2025. Use Stealth and try servers in smaller countries.
Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs Surfshark, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost
Surfshark
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Turn on NoBorders. Switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data can help.
Private Internet Access
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to the Shadowsocks proxy option before connecting.
CyberGhost
UnreliableNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to a nearby server (CyberGhost has no stealth mode) before connecting.
We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick and how we make money
What's going on
Pakistan blocked X from February 2024 until it quietly returned on 7–8 May 2025. Under PTA licensing rules, apps from Proton VPN, NordVPN, Surfshark and others have faced disruption since 22 December 2025. On 11 October 2026, when the president imposed emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, NetBlocks recorded a major internet disruption there; mobile, Wi-Fi and some fixed lines went down, with Swabi still cut the next day. Mobile shutdowns around protests and religious holidays remain common.
Before you connect: Results vary a lot between ISPs. Check the community votes on this page to see what is working this week.
Is a VPN legal in Pakistan?
Legal with restrictions
The PTA requires VPNs used for business to be registered, and unlicensed VPN services can be blocked by ISPs. Personal use has not been criminalised, but services are throttled.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Which apps are blocked in Pakistan?
Yes. Bluesky and Tinder are blocked in Pakistan.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Pakistan?
Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, JioHotstar, PayPal, Peacock and BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) are not offered in Pakistan. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Pakistan?
Legal with restrictions. The PTA requires VPNs used for business to be registered, and unlicensed VPN services can be blocked by ISPs. Personal use has not been criminalised, but services are throttled.
Which VPN works in Pakistan?
Our picks for Pakistan are ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN. Connections are unreliable here, so switch on each one's anti-censorship mode: ExpressVPN (use automatic obfuscation (with the protocol on Automatic)), NordVPN (use NordWhisper or obfuscated servers) and Proton VPN (use the Stealth protocol). Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Will a VPN work during an internet shutdown in Pakistan?
No. A VPN can get around blocks on specific apps and sites, but during a full shutdown there is no connection to the outside world for the VPN to use.
Report a block
Seeing something different in Pakistan? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.