Pakistan is preparing to establish a dedicated Cybersecurity Authority as the draft of the National Cyber Security Act has been completed and shared with major stakeholders. The planned authority will serve as the central institution responsible for coordinating cyber protections across all Critical Information Infrastructure sectors.
The Federal Minister for IT and Telecom informed the National Assembly that the authority will play a key role under the National Cyber Security Policy 2021. The policy aims to safeguard digital assets, strengthen online safety, and support secure digital transformation across government and public services.
Officials highlighted that the Digital Economy Enhancement Program is already introducing systems such as secure data exchange, digital identity tools, and e-citizen services. The government has also designated the digital systems of NADRA, FBR, and the telecom sector as critical infrastructure requiring high-level security.
Until the new authority is formed, a CERT Council under the 2023 rules is handling national cyber incident response. The 14-member council includes representatives from defence, interior, foreign affairs, telecom, academia, and civil society to improve coordination and strengthen Pakistan’s cyber resilience.
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