# Pakistan Govt Staff Can Use Only Approved VPNs, Says National CERT Handbook

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/technology/pakistan-govt-staff-can-use-only-approved-vpns-says-national-cert-handbook)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 15 Oct 2026
Updated: 15 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 15 Oct 2026

> The National Cybersecurity Handbook 2026-27 from National CERT tells government employees to use only approved VPNs when accessing official systems remotely.

**Government employees in Pakistan may use a VPN for official work only if it is an approved one, according to the National Cybersecurity Handbook 2026-27 issued by the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT),** ProPakistani reported on 15 October 2026.

The condition is simple: staff who reach official systems remotely must use "approved virtual private networks (VPNs)", meaning services cleared by their own department. The guidance is part of wider cybersecurity measures for federal and provincial governments and public-sector organisations.

## What staff are told to do

- Use only VPN services approved by their department.
- Keep strong login credentials.
- End remote sessions as soon as official tasks are done.
- Contact the IT or cybersecurity team if a VPN is unstable or keeps disconnecting.

## What is prohibited

- Using unauthorised VPNs or proxy applications for official work.
- Switching off antivirus, firewalls or other endpoint protection to make a VPN run better.
- Leaving a VPN session open on an unlocked device.
- Sharing login credentials.

## Why the handbook cares

ProPakistani says the guidance points to risks such as brute-force attacks, ransomware aimed at internal servers and persistent backdoors that allow long-term espionage. An unvetted VPN or proxy app on a work device can open exactly those doors, which is why departments are asked to control which ones are used.

## Why this matters in Pakistan

VPN use in Pakistan has been a live policy issue for some time, with registration requirements and blocking of unregistered services reported in earlier years. This handbook is different in scope: it is guidance on how public servants protect official networks, and it leaves the choice of tool to the department's IT team. In practice, an employee who installs a free VPN from an app store to reach a ministry portal would be outside the guidance, while one using the department's own configured VPN client would be inside it.

The advice to contact IT or cybersecurity staff when a connection fails is aimed at stopping people reaching for an unapproved workaround. The handbook's advice to end sessions promptly and never leave them open on an unlocked laptop applies equally to desk and home use.

## What it does not cover

The report applies to government staff accessing official systems. It does not say anything about VPN use by ordinary citizens, and it gives no deadline or penalty. We have not seen the handbook itself, so the details above are as reported by ProPakistani.

## Staff and mobile devices

Many officials work from personal phones. If you import a handset to use for work, our [PTA mobile tax calculator](/tools/telecom/pta-mobile-tax-calculator) shows the duty payable.

## Frequently asked questions

**Who issued the VPN instruction for government staff?**

The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT), in its National Cybersecurity Handbook 2026-27, as reported by ProPakistani.

**What is the condition for using a VPN?**

Government employees must use only VPNs approved for official use by their department.

## Sources

- Govt Staff Can Use VPNs Under One Condition (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/15/govt-staff-can-use-vpns-under-one-condition/

How to cite: "Pakistan Govt Staff Can Use Only Approved VPNs, Says National CERT Handbook", Searchable, 15 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/technology/pakistan-govt-staff-can-use-only-approved-vpns-says-national-cert-handbook