𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝟲-𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱, 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 — National CERT has successfully concluded the second cohort of its flagship six-week Cyber Champs Internship Program, a strategic initiative of the Capacity Building Directorate, led by Ms. Zaheema Iqbal, Assistant Director, Advisories and Communications. The program engaged promising young students in an intensive learning experience designed to strengthen digital safety awareness and build foundational cybersecurity capabilities.

The structured six-week program progressed from essential digital hygiene and online safety to foundational technical and operational concepts. Participants explored password security, protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), secure Wi-Fi, mobile application security, phishing and online fraud prevention, and protection against cyber harassment. The program further introduced participants to Python programming, web development, network security, cloud architecture, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), and Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), complemented by public speaking and presentation skills.

Learning was reinforced through practical exercises, real-world case studies, classroom presentations, and interactive sessions delivered by National CERT’s Directors and resource persons. As part of the program’s practical exposure, participants also visited the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), where they toured the Security Operations Centre (SOC) and interacted with cybersecurity professionals to gain insights into Pakistan’s national cyber ecosystem.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Dr. Haider Abbas, TI, Director General, National CERT, encouraged participants to continuously strengthen their technical capabilities and serve as responsible digital defenders and cyber ambassadors within their communities. Mr. Khurram Javed, Director Capacity Building, underscored the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the digital environment safely and responsibly.

The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates and reflections from participating students, marking another milestone in National CERT’s continued efforts to develop a skilled, informed, and cyber-resilient generation for a secure digital Pakistan.