Cabinet likely to approve response teams to safeguard Pakistan’s cyber security

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to enhance its cyber security measures by establishing National Computer Emergency Response Teams (NCERT) that will monitor and safeguard the country’s cyberspace round the clock.

The caretaker federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, will approve the constitution of NCERT under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 and the CERT Rules 2023 on Friday, according to sources from the Ministry of Information and Technology.

The NCERT will coordinate with various sectoral CERT teams and provide them with technical support, operational facilities, and capacity-building services to handle ever-emerging cyber-security risks and vulnerabilities at the national, sectoral, and organizational levels.

The sources said that the government will also establish a National Security Operations Centre to facilitate the practical implementation of the CERT Rules, which were approved in 2023 to provide a legislative framework for cyber security in Pakistan.

The NCERT will be overseen by a council comprising members from various government bodies, including: the secretary of IT as the chairman; representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Cabinet Division and members from the National Security Division, the telecom sector, industry, academia, and civil society

Earlier, Interim Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr Umar Saif recently said that the CERT initiative aimed to prevent potential cyber threats to the country’s data and ensure swift responses in case of cyber-attacks.

The NCERT and the Sectoral CERT teams will work together to monitor and safeguard Pakistan’s cyberspace 24/7, including during holidays.

The cabinet will also consider the appointment of a category “A” firm of auditor for NADRA, the payment of licence fee, renewal fees and spectrum auction proceeds to the government of AJK.