Best VPN for Pakistan
Pakistan has a very interesting history when it comes to the internet and censorship. Social media sites such as Facebook have been banned in previous years after a competition gained popularity asking people to draw the Prophet Mohammed. In Pakistan, anything deemed as blasphemous against Islam and the Prophet Mohammed is banned and can be punishable by law or death sentence. Anti-Islam messages are simply not tolerated and for this reason, the internet is intermittently monitored, restricting connectivity during religious holidays and mobile activity during these periods too.
For the fastest browsing on the most secure connection in Pakistan, use Express VPN.
Should you wish to operate your freedom of speech and be able to access whichever websites you like, including your favorite Pakistani shows while abroad too, then you will need to use a VPN. Not only will your connection be safe and secure from cybercrime but it will also keep it safe from government officials.
Here are our top picks:
#1 ExpressVPN
If you are looking for a genuinely safe and reputable VPN to use while in Pakistan then ExpressVPN makes an excellent choice. This is the firm favorite Virtual Private Network for security and you can feel confident in the knowledge that these guys have your back. ExpressVPN uses the very latest 256-bit encryption which means that your data is essentially scrambled and unreadable should it land into the wrong hands. Using a VPN service such as this means that your identity is entirely anonymous so you are free to express your opinions and access geo-blocked content (such as US Netflix) without having to worry about your sites being shut down. We like that ExpressVPN provides a kill switch feature too. If you’re not already familiar with this safety feature then we can safely say that this is something you want your VPN provider to offer as it essentially cuts off your internet connection if your VPN cuts out for any reason, keeping you safe and protected at all times.
If you want to access your favorite Pakistani television shows via online streaming when away from your home country then ExpressVPN will give you a fast connection. Excellent download speeds are easy when you have over 1700 servers in approximately 100 countries. The company provides a 30-day money back guarantee if you’re not entirely happy with the service too.
Users can choose from a range of subscriptions to perfectly suit your personal requirements. Generally speaking, the 15-month deal provided the best value for money.
Another great feature of ExpressVPN is the customer service. If you have any problems whatsoever, you can chat to someone online instantly (so long as there isn’t a big queue) or email them with your issues. Generally, we found that the response rate was pretty fast.
If you decide you love ExpressVPN during your trial, bear in mind that they’re offering a SPECIAL DEAL to Secure Thoughts readers: 3 months free (49% savings) on their annual subscription plan – check out the full review here.
For the most private, secure access to content in Pakistan, read our ExpressVPN review and get Express VPN today.
#2 SurfShark
One of the most important features alongside security is connection speed. If you are downloading content or streaming your favorite Pakistani movies from Pakistan or any other country, you are going to need a fast connection speed if you want to avoid lagging or annoying buffering issues. Luckily SurfShark offers a fast connection, with over 500 servers in 50 countries to choose to connect to. They also provide a connection to unlimited devices, which is quite unusual as most VPN providers only offer up to three devices at a time.
As we already mentioned, safety is vital when using a VPN in Pakistan and we feel that SurfShark offer a high level of security for its users with the added bonus of an ad blocker, malware blocker, enterprise-grade infrastructure, and a strict no-logging policy.
They offer several packages that are super affordable with the two-year subscription providing the best value for money.
Check out the full review here.
#3 CyberGhost
Using a VPN provider such as CyberGhost allows you to hide your IP address. What it actually does is to share the same address to all of its users so that means that the IP address can never be traced back to you. This VPN provider also uses the finest encryption available, providing you with a high level of security. CyberGhost has a strict no-logging policy so you’ll always be safe and anonymous in their hands. They operate around 3,000 servers in many different countries, giving you access to the fastest connections around. There are different subscriptions available with the longest offering the best value for money.
We always like a money back guarantee as it shows confidence in the product. With CyberGhost they give you a 60-day money back guarantee if you’re not completely happy with the service. In the meantime, if you needed to get in touch with customer service then you’ll be pleased to hear that they have a fantastic reputation with fast response rates.
You can check out the full review here.
#4 NordVPN
Marketed as the “the internet with no borders”, NordVPN gives you unlimited access to online content without fear of Pakistani censorship and government officials monitoring your online behavior. You have complete privacy and anonymity when you use NordVPN. Providing military-grade encryption, NordVPN is one of the safest VPN providers out there, which means that you can use public Wi-Fi, access private information or just have the freedom to visit whatever sites you wish, without having to worry.
Streaming video content in Pakistan will be no problem at all with NordVPN as it provides a multi-layer of security. Like a few of the other high-quality VPN providers, they also provide a no-logging policy which means that your personal information will be kept strictly under wraps. They have a kill switch too, to cut you off and keep you safe, should your VPN connection cut out for any reason.
They offer a 30-day money back guarantee if, for any reason, you are not happy with the service.
You can read the full review here.
Are VPNs Legal in Pakistan?
The problem with Pakistan is that their internet rules and regulations change frequently and it can be difficult to keep up with what has been banned or censored. In the past, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter as well as Wikipedia have all been banned. In brief, if you are a resident of Pakistan then it can be difficult to keep up to date with what is allowed and what is prohibited. The good news is that VPNs have not been banned from Pakistan to this date – of course, this is subject to change! There is a slight setback though – VPNs are allowed if they’re registered and any unregistered VPNs are blocked. The problem with a registered VPN is that it may leak your information to the government but so long as you find the right type of VPN provider this should not be a problem.
Can I Access Blocked Content in Pakistan with a VPN?
Yes. When you use a VPN you get to choose a different and most importantly anonymous IP address from hundreds of different servers located around the world. This means that you can access geo-blocked content safely. Anyone who has ever tried to watch their favorite Pakistani TV show outside of Pakistan will be aware of how frustrating this can be when you are blocked. Using a VPN will ensure that this will never happen again.
If you use a VPN it also means that you can access other websites that have been blocked by Pakistani governments, such as social media platforms and other sites that might conflict with Pakistan rules and regulations.
Streaming in Pakistan
Using a VPN means that you can always access your favorite TV shows and it doesn’t matter where you are in the world. Your content won’t be restricted and you will have freedom of speech online!
Here are the most popular streaming sites in Pakistan:
It probably comes as no surprise now that Netflix is available in Pakistan. Netflix is one of the largest streaming sites across the world, providing thousands of movies, TV shows, documentaries and Netflix Specials that you are unable to view anywhere else. Although it’s fantastic that Netflix is available in Pakistan, the content available is pretty limited. If you are a resident of Pakistan you will be painfully aware that when a series is advertised online, you might not be able to find it in your collection. Luckily a VPN will resolve that issue fast as it gives you the opportunity to change your IP address and access Netflix from different countries. US Netflix is the most popular by far as it contains the most content. Netflix is geo-blocked in different countries which means that you although you may have a Netflix account in Pakistan, you won’t be able to access the content when you leave the country – and if you’re in the middle of watching your favorite series then this can be very frustrating. Again, a VPN will mean that this is a problem of the past and you will no longer have these issues anymore.
Amazon used to be mainly known for being an online marketplace where you can buy pretty much anything. Amazon Prime means that you can order your goods online and have them delivered the very next day and sometimes even the same day. Another reason why Amazon Prime has become popular and is now available in Pakistan is because it now has a popular streaming service where you can watch the latest movies online. Again, some content may be restricted in Pakistan and a VPN will bypass any censorship laws.
This is one of the most popular websites in Pakistan and we can see why – it has hundreds of Indian movies, Punjabi and Hindi movies as well as a selection of Bollywood Movies too. You can download or stream online and will just need a good fast connection to watch them in Pakistan. If you try to access this website from a different country you may find that it’s geo-blocked. A VPN will provide you with a fast connection that will bypass geo-blocking and also keep your data safe too – essential when using streaming sites that attract nasty malware and viruses.
Bottom Line – Why You Need a VPN in Pakistan
The reasons for using a VPN in Pakistan are endless. Here are just a few reasons:
Staying Safe Online
If you use a VPN then your information is encrypted, which means that your data is unreadable should it fall into the wrong hands. Not only this, it means that when you use public Wi-Fi you can freely visit any websites including personal banking sites and other sensitive information sites that contain private data, in complete safety.
Bypass Geo-Blocking
If you have moved to a different country or wish to watch local content from a different location then you will be aware that many websites are blocked by location. Using a decent VPN will bypass this by allowing you to use an alternative IP address that is completely anonymous.
Bypass Censorship
If you live in Pakistan you will be aware that the censorship laws are intermittent. It can be difficult to keep track of which websites are currently banned and what is and what isn’t allowed. Using a VPN means that you can bypass any banned content and post freely and anonymously safe in the knowledge that your private data is secure and your identification is hidden.
Freedom Of Speech in Pakistan
Living in a country with no freedom of speech can be difficult and using a VPN will change this immediately and give you access to websites that otherwise will have been banned. You will be able to communicate openly and not have to worry that your private information is being watched by government officials.
For the best customer support on the fastest, most secure network, to see all content in Pakistan, get ExpressVPN today.