𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗚𝟰𝟮, 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮

𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭, 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘥, 𝘗𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯 —The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) of Pakistan proudly participated in the 42nd South Asian Network Operators Group (SANOG42) conference, held in Islamabad from October 21st to October 25th, 2024. Invited by Mr. Haris Shamsi, CEO of Yottabyte and host of this year’s SANOG event, National CERT’s delegation included DG National CERT, Dr. Haider Abbas (TI), and Mr. Syed Imran Haider, Manager of Training at National CERT. The five-day event brought together technical experts, network operators, and cybersecurity professionals from across South Asia to foster collaboration, share expertise, and advance regional internet infrastructure and security initiatives.

Dr. Haider Abbas delivered a keynote address on October 21, where he emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among SANOG member countries to address shared cybersecurity threats. He highlighted SANOG’s role as a vital platform for fostering these partnerships and advancing regional resilience in the face of evolving cyber risks. Following that Dr. Abbas also presented an in-depth overview of National CERT’s current initiatives, functions, and strategic roadmap, showcasing the organization’s efforts in fortifying Pakistan’s cyber defense framework. His presentation covered National CERT’s threat response capabilities, cybersecurity policy standards, and ongoing capacity-building programs, all aimed at strengthening the region’s cyber readiness.

Following the keynote, Mr. Syed Imran Haider, National CERT’s Manager of Training, participated in a series of workshops and panel discussions, exchanging ideas on the latest cybersecurity training methodologies and innovations in network security. His involvement reinforced National CERT’s commitment to continuous learning and skill enhancement, with an aim to align Pakistan’s cybersecurity competencies with global best practices. SANOG42 featured a range of interactive workshops, panel discussions, and social events, all of which provided National CERT and other participants ample opportunities to connect and learn from each other.

National CERT's participation in SANOG42 underscores its commitment to regional collaboration in cybersecurity, signaling a shared vision of a secure digital landscape across South Asia. As the conference concludes, National CERT looks forward to future engagements and collaborative efforts that will continue to enhance cybersecurity resilience across the region.