The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MoITT) has initiated the process for the first meeting of the Computer Emergency Response Team Council (CERT Council), marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity framework.
This meeting, expected to take place in the coming days, will bring together key stakeholders to fortify the country’s digital infrastructure.
According to the sources, the inaugural meeting of the CERT Council will focus on recommending provincial CERTs for notification, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The federal government will approve and notify these provincial CERTs based on the council’s recommendations. Additionally, the council will also recommend establishing Telecom and Defense CERTs to the federal government.
The CERT Council, comprising 15 members, includes representatives from vital ministries such as Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Interior. The Federal Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecom will chair the council, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders. To ensure diverse perspectives, the government has also included representatives from academia, industry, and civil society.
According to IT Ministry, the council’s establishment is a significant step towards 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.