The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MoITT) has taken a significant step towards strengthening Pakistan’s cybersecurity framework by initiating the formation of the Computer Emergency Response Team Council (CERT Council).
The inaugural meeting of the CERT Council is expected to take place in the coming days. The council will play a crucial role in recommending the establishment of provincial CERTs in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The federal government will review and approve these recommendations, leading to the notification of provincial CERTs. Additionally, the CERT Council will recommend the establishment of Telecom and Defense CERTs to the federal government.
The CERT Council comprises 15 members, including representatives from key ministries such as Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Interior. The Federal Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecom will chair the council. To ensure diverse perspectives, the government has also included representatives from academia, industry, and civil society.
The establishment of the CERT Council is a significant milestone in enhancing Pakistan’s ability to respond to cyber threats.
This move follows the earlier formalization of the National Computer Emergency Response Team (nCERT), consolidating the country’s cybersecurity initiatives under a unified framework. With the CERT Council in place, Pakistan is poised to develop a resilient digital infrastructure.
