𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

The ISSRA - Institute For Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis at the National Defence University Islamabad organized a series of panel discussions, seminars, and forums from September 2023 to October 2024. These sessions brought together practitioners from the Tri-Services, government, industry, and academia to discuss and refine strategic cybersecurity guidelines for the government in the context of national security. Dr. Haider Abbas, TI, Director General of National CERT, played a pivotal role as a panel moderator, guest speaker, and expert panelist during these discussions, contributing significantly to the formulation of key cybersecurity strategies.

The strategic recommendations were divided into short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals to safeguard Pakistan's digital frontiers. The key highlights include:

• 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺: Update the legal framework to address cybersecurity threats such as fake news and digital impersonation, particularly with the growing use of AI. The laws must balance freedom and privacy, and mandatory cybersecurity education should be introduced for government and civil employees. Additionally, the establishment of a National Cyber Security Agency will centralize monitoring, while crisis communication strategies must be developed to restore public trust following cyber incidents.

• 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺: Develop comprehensive threat-sharing platforms to enhance cybersecurity readiness. Strengthen international collaboration to address cross-border cyber incidents.

• 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺: Establish nationwide cybersecurity strategies and infrastructure aimed at reducing reliance on external technologies. Achieving self-sufficiency in cybersecurity technologies will minimize vulnerabilities and strengthen Pakistan's cybersecurity ecosystem.

National CERT remains deeply committed to playing a key role in securing Pakistan's digital assets. In addition to responding to incidents, National CERT proactively addresses future challenges by continuously refining its strategies, advancing threat detection capabilities, and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness across all sectors.