Daily Times

Sir: Back in 2001 in Germany’s prestigious Tubingen University I met, among other people, a large number of Indian students who were working as computer experts in different German companies. There were hardly any Pakistanis hired as computer experts in those organisations, nor were there students in the university from Pakistan seeking to study the potentially important subject of computer sciences. The confidence level enjoyed by those Indians spoke of the pride they relished from the exclusivity. Credit goes to Indian policymakers for introducing early on the cyber policy that enabled them to enter the 21st century with a national objective in mind. The computer savvy population of India has earned the country enormous economic benefits. India has now computerised almost all its departments, especially those related to security and war. It has introduced a cyber crime policy that is being followed by its intelligence agencies for surveillance, counterintelligence, etc.

Pakistan’s security agencies seem not to have followed the course as yet, which is a serious cause for concern. Although I do not underestimate our people in the computers and IT field, still there are areas where we need to expand and extend this valuable knowledge. I am afraid that most of our senior officers, both in the civil and military organisations, are not fully familiar with cyber knowledge, therefore less responsive to its significance and sensitivity.

Professor Alya Alvi

Rawalpindi