Pakistan's PTA has significantly increased VPN blocking in recent years.
Standard VPN protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard are detected and blocked. Here's what still works.
Free 3GB/month · No credit card · Works on Jazz, Zong, Telenor & PTCL
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority uses DPI — technology that reads the metadata of internet traffic to identify VPN protocols.
OpenVPN uses port 1194. WireGuard uses port 51820. PTA has these fingerprints catalogued and ISPs block them on command.
When PTA issues directives, Jazz, Zong, Telenor, and PTCL are legally required to comply and block the specified protocols.
VPN blocking intensifies during protests, political events, and election periods when the government restricts internet access most aggressively.
Signs your VPN is being blocked by PTA:
To reliably bypass PTA blocking, a VPN needs these features:
Proprietary protocol — not OpenVPN, not WireGuard. A custom protocol that doesn't have known PTA fingerprints.
HTTPS disguise — traffic looks like regular web browsing. PTA cannot distinguish it from normal HTTPS traffic.
Rotating or unlisted IP ranges — fresh IP addresses that haven't yet been added to PTA's block lists.
Active maintenance — the VPN provider actively updates the protocol as blocking methods improve.
⚠️ What doesn't work in Pakistan:
AdGuard VPN was built specifically to defeat deep packet inspection:
Own protocol — AdGuard VPN doesn't rely on standard OpenVPN or WireGuard; its protocol is designed to look like regular HTTPS traffic.
Runs over HTTPS port 443 — the same port used by every website. Impossible to block without breaking the entire internet.
Traffic disguise — your VPN connection looks identical to visiting a website. DPI inspection shows regular HTTPS traffic.
Actively maintained — AdGuard engineers update the protocol as blocking technology improves. Your VPN stays working.
✅ Works in Pakistan on Jazz, Zong, Telenor & PTCL in 2026
Key criteria for working in Pakistan:
| Feature | 🛡️ AdGuard VPN | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price/month | €2.69 | €3.09 | €6.67 | €2.49 |
| Devices | 10 | 6 | 8 | ∞ |
| Locations | 75+ | 60+ | 90+ | 100+ |
| Ad blocking | ||||
| No logs | ||||
| Own protocol | ||||
| Free plan |
Own protocol column indicates whether the VPN uses a proprietary protocol capable of bypassing DPI.
All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee
Also available: Free plan with 3GB/month — no credit card required.