PTA Organizes Cybersecurity Awards 2024

To recognize the outstanding achievements in enhancing cybersecurity within the telecom sector of Pakistan, The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) organized the Cybersecurity Awards 2024 in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Commending the industry’s commitment, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja reiterated the government’s vision for a robust cybersecurity framework essential for Pakistan’s economic and digital stability.

Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman HI(M), Chairman PTA, in his keynote address, underscored PTA’s initiatives fostering a proactive cybersecurity culture, emphasizing collaboration for a secure sector.

In his keynote, CEO Jazz Aamir Ibrahim said that while initial policy-making rests with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications and enforcement with PTA, the responsibility extends far beyond these bodies. “We need not just a government-led approach but a society-wide effort when it comes to cybersecurity,” he opined.

Ibrahim highlighted the increasing vulnerabilities in the digital space. He said that Jazz, which serves over 71 million telecom customers, 44 million banking customers, and 15 million video platform users, operates 36 data centres nationwide. This scale, he explained, brings inherent risks. He that Jazz’s systems process close to one billion calls and 500 million messages daily, alongside $100 million worth of JazzCash transactions.

Shields were presented to top-ranking telecom entities and key stakeholders for their roles in enhancing Pakistan’s Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) ranking.

The cybersecurity annual report 2024 was also launched on the occasion detailing PTA’s initiatives. The report and the details of rankings will be available on the PTA website.

Cybersecurity awards celebrate the telecom industry’s dedication to strengthening security frameworks, showcasing advancements toward a more resilient telecom infrastructure.