Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunications is taking a significant step to bolster national cybersecurity. The ministry has urged all four provincial governments to establish Provincial Computer Emergency Response Teams (PCERTs).
This initiative coincides with the recent announcement of a National CERT, demonstrating the government’s comprehensive approach to strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure.
Sources reveal that each provincial government will be responsible for designating a specific department to lead the creation of their PCERT. Before proceeding, provincial authorities will seek approval from the federal government, ensuring a coordinated effort.
Upon approval, designated departments will work diligently to establish the PCERTs, following regulations outlined by the CERT rules. These provincial CERTs will function as sectoral teams, collaborating closely with the National CERT through a designated Government CERT.
The provincial CERTs will play a vital role in safeguarding the digital assets of provincial public sector entities, including autonomous and semi-autonomous organizations. Their duties will encompass threat detection, advanced threat analysis, issuing alerts and warnings, managing vulnerabilities, and responding efficiently to cybersecurity incidents.
These teams will be equipped to conduct in-depth investigations, analyze and identify threats, perform forensics for malware detection, and take proactive measures to mitigate cybersecurity risks within their respective provinces.
