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Users across Pakistan are reporting persistent issues accessing ProtonMail’s web interface, raising concerns about the reliability of encrypted communication tools amid widening restrictions on privacy-focused services. The complaints surfaced prominently on Reddit’s r/PakistaniTech community, where multiple users described being unable to load ProtonMail through browsers while the mobile app continued to function intermittently.
One user posted:
So i was trying to access my email ok ProtonMail but I am unable to access it. I am able to use the app but the website is not working. Is this because of the ProtonVPN ban? I have all my critical emails set for ProtonMail and it is affecting me badly. Can anyone help in this regard if they know a solution? Thanks
Other commenters confirmed similar behavior across different internet service providers.
Saw a post like this a few minutes ago too where someone said proton mail wont work.
This government doesnt care about user’s privacy so expect the worse
The incident has reignited broader concerns about Pakistan’s deteriorating access to Proton’s ecosystem, particularly its VPN services. Over the past few months, users have consistently and increasingly reported that Proton VPN connections fail outright, even when using obfuscation or stealth modes that previously bypassed network filtering.
Several Redditors noted that Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and other encrypted Proton services are now either partially inaccessible or require constant workarounds. However, these only apply to URLs. As one user commented:
Yes iOS and Android app is working. URL is not working
One commenter also stated plainly:
Thats very bad.
I have all my apps, websites, recovery addresses etc on ProtonMail. The app seems to be working but i still cant access the website
Pakistan has gradually tightened controls on unregistered VPN traffic, with multiple ISPs reportedly blocking or throttling encrypted tunnels at the network level. While the government frames these measures as regulatory enforcement, privacy advocates argue that the impact extends far beyond VPNs, affecting encrypted email, cloud storage, and secure collaboration tools that rely on similar infrastructure.
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Security researchers note that Proton’s services are particularly vulnerable to such blocks because they prioritize strong encryption by default, making them harder to whitelist selectively without undermining their core security model. As a result, users often find that even non-VPN Proton services become collateral damage when VPN filtering is enforced aggressively.
The lack of an official statement from any department or telecom authorities has added more to the speculation of a blanket ban on VPNs in Pakistan. Proton’s public status dashboards continue to list services as operational globally, despite giving out a warning that some people in Pakistan are facing issues. However, there is no clear-cut announcement from any official to explain what is going on.
For now, users are relying on mobile apps, alternative secure email providers, or temporary VPN workarounds to maintain access to sensitive communications. Many warn that continued disruption of encrypted services could have serious consequences for journalists, freelancers, businesses, and anyone relying on privacy-first digital infrastructure in Pakistan.
As one Reddit user summarized the situation bluntly:
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