𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) of Pakistan successfully conducted the second session of its Executive Cybersecurity Leadership Program at its Headquarters, focusing on Cyber Governance, Legal Obligations & Accountability. Building on the momentum of the inaugural session, the program continues to engage senior leadership from ministries, sector regulators, academia, and public and private sector organizations in strengthening Pakistan’s cybersecurity posture through strategic insight and institutional alignment.

The session was delivered by Mr. Salman Mushtaq Qureshi, Cybersecurity & Business Strategy Advisor and Executive Risk Consultant, who also serves as National CERT's Distinguished Trainer as part of its Distinguished Trainers Program. Drawing on extensive cross-sectoral expertise, he provided a comprehensive overview of cybersecurity governance frameworks, leadership responsibilities, and the critical role of accountability in managing cyber risk at the executive level.

Key areas covered during the session included cybersecurity leadership roles and governance structures, an overview of Pakistan’s evolving regulatory landscape including Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), the Data Protection Bill, and sectoral regulations by State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. The discussion also emphasized policy development, compliance mechanisms, reporting obligations, and the legal and reputational implications of cybersecurity breaches.

Through practical insights and interactive dialogue, participants explored how governance and regulatory compliance are integral to organizational resilience and national cyber preparedness. The session reinforced the importance of embedding cybersecurity into enterprise risk management and strategic decision-making processes at the highest levels of leadership.

National CERT remains committed to build a resilient, secure, and trusted digital ecosystem through strategic leadership engagement, capacity building, and sustained collaboration across all sectors.