Pakistan’s cybersecurity ecosystem rarely produces names that command both national policy influence and international recognition. Jawad Khalid Mirza is one of the few exceptions.
With over 20 years of hands-on leadership across the financial, telecommunication and Public sectors — spanning Pakistan and Saudi Arabia — Mirza has spent two decades doing what most can only theorize about: actually building cyber-resilient organizations from the ground up.
In a move that signals the government’s intent to bridge the gap between policy and practice, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has formally nominated Mirza — currently serving as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Askari Bank — as a Member of the newly forming National CERT Council.
The council is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s National Cyber Security Policy 2021, which envisions a national Computer Emergency Response Team (nCERT) supported by a network of specialized Sectoral CERTs. Mirza joins as an industry representative, responsible for contributing to the consultative and advisory functions that will define how Pakistan responds to cyber threats at a national scale.
What sets Mirza apart from peers is his commitment to community-building. His footprint extends well beyond his day job:
These aren’t ceremonial titles. Together, they represent a deliberate effort to create the kind of cybersecurity community Pakistan has long needed — one where practitioners share intelligence, raise standards, and develop the next generation of talent.
In 2023, Mirza was named “CISO of the Year” — an international recognition that reflects both his personal accomplishments and the growing stature of Pakistani cybersecurity professionals on the world stage.