YouTube Banned in Pakistan? Unblock YouTube

Posted by Saad Hamid on February 23, 2008

The most breaking yet shocking news for all of the Pakistani Internet users is that YouTube has been banned in Pakistan. This came to me when I was about to open and watch a YouTube video on Firefox but instead it kept returning me the "server not responding" message after many failed attempts. Later it was confirmed by Shafiq on his blog.

This is not the first time that something like this has happened in Pakistan. Last time Blogger.com was blocked as some of the blogs on Blogger were targeting the religious and cultural values of Muslims however this time the matter is related to politics.

I will try my best not to go into the details rather I will teach you some ways to Unblock and Access YouTube. This is not only helpful for Pakistani users but for users of all the regions where YouTube is blocked.

1. Proxy Site

vTunnel is one of the best proxy site used world-wide to unblock and access YouTube. Here are some of the other proxies that will let you access YouTube as well.

2. URL-to-Hex Converter

This trick does not work all the time and it is browser dependent but its still worth a try. It will teach you how to unblock and access YouTube without using a proxy.

3. Fresh Proxy Servers

I also have a full guide on how to bypass ISP firewall using Proxy servers which can be of great benefit.

4. UltraSurf

UltraSurf is one of the most light proxy clients that is very small in size and easy to use. Originally shared by a user in the comments.

5. HotSpot Shield

HotSpot Shield make a virtual private network (VPN) across your Internet thus allowing you to bypass any filters and watch YouTube video.

6. YouTube on Mobile device

Weird! but true. I tried to access YouTube on my Nokia N95 and iPod Touch and it was working fine. You can try accessing YouTube on your mobile device.

Please share more walkthroughs and tricks in the comments. Thanks!

Update: The ban has been officially lifted. YouTube.com is no longer banned in Pakistan.

  • I guess mobile version of these sites use different IP and they didnt block it...Usually proxy is a cat and mouse chase...you find a new proxy and they block it next day...so I hope it gets permanently resolved soon.
  • Guest
    This ban will be soon lifted, it is just temporary until someone decides how to deal with the problem. Problem is, there is no problem.!
  • Trust me on this one! In Pakistan they do not have the time and energy to block all the YouTube proxy sites. I bet! even banning YouTube itself would have been a great challenge for them so I think we are lucky in that case.
  • Waqar
    I have tried http://vtunnel.com/ and i was able to open youtube.com through this proxy server. Though you cannot use the full features of website but still you can watch videos.
  • Ravmon
    Well I know the lightest proxy client called UltraSurf which can be downloaded from this direct link:
    UltraSurf (Size only 130KB)
  • Ravmon
    Try the above client, it can bypass every firewall and blockage that you may encounter with. The use is simple. Just download and Run it. It will automatically open Internet Explorer. and then whatever you type in the address bar will be surely available for you.
  • Waqar
    Thanks guys. Good work!
  • Well I think YouTube broadcasted the sculptures of Holy Prophet thats why its banned in Pakistan. We guys should not try to unblock it as a good Muslims and instead of unblocking we should protest by stop using YouTube.
  • It is no problem. Youtube is banned every week in Turkey. Later ban removed, last week banned, last week again ban removed :)
  • Waqar
    Not they are just trying to make it look like Holy Prophet issue, the original thing is about govt and past elections. MQM got the big lead in karachi, and someone uploaded the evidence videos on Youtube.com about how they cheated. They also show this on GEO TV.
  • Fawad
    I accept Youtube or any other site ban as long it does not hurt our religious values, freedom of speech does not mean that one could exploit religious affairs. Instead of blaming PTCL, look at your own acts/deeds etc. We as Muslims should stand hand in hand with each other.
  • Max
    Hey you know any proxy where the upload feature is not blocked?
  • @Waqar

    I agree with you. They always do this, whenever they have to hide political reasons they put religion in the front.

    @Fawad and Mobiles Range

    If you are so religious and over-good Muslims, why don't you ask the Government to block all the adult sites that are ruining your youth and culture?

    @Max

    Try doing it through your mobile if you have one.
  • Hi guys, http://pakistanyoutube.com works well to unblock Youtube, just enter Youtube.com into the box and click surf.

    It is fast most of the time and free!
  • Waqar
    @ Dj Flush
    Good point, agree with that.

    @ All
    If china can order Google.com to block all their result which contain any adult material on Google China (www.google.cn), then why not our govt do so?

    Holy Prophet issue is kinda old, there is no way it can come up again like this. Those videos where there for over 2 years now, how come they didn't see them before?

    There is something political going on behind that. Believe it or not.
  • Ajay
    Ok heres a proxy i access in college for accessing YouTube

    - New Domain - https://unblock-youtube-proxy.info
    OR
    http://unblock-youtube-proxy.info:1234
  • All these proxies will be soon blocked by admins :D
  • Saquib
    Youtube is blocked in Bangladesh as well now. I tried using vtunnel and a lot of other open proxy sites but i can't seem to be able to watch the videos and javascript doesn't work either, though i can surf throughout everything else on youtube. Any solutions?
  • bj
    ive tried all proxies and none of them work. what do i do
  • Ajith
    Hello,

    I work as a system level programmer in Dubai , and pagemod proxies were the only ones which got through the Etisalat Filter.
    I have tried all sorts of proxy servers like TOR etc but all get pretty slow and inaccessible moreover pagemod has support
    for myspace bebo facebook orkut and video sites as well.
    Even tough web proxies like pagemod proxies gets blocked eventually I get new ones just by sending a mail to
    pagemod@gmail.com or by subscribing to their services.
    Presently their new ones are:

    https://mapreference.info or
    mapreference.info

    Aj
  • Zeshan
    This is so bad!! i cant believe that these morons did somethin like this!
    How can u ban a whole website just because of one damn video ?
    There are so many other websites on the net that deserved to get banned e.g. Porn sites but c'mon Youtube. Pakistan sux >:(
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