ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has said that the newly introduced Cybersecurity Act 2025 marks a major milestone in Pakistan’s national security framework.
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She described the legislation as a crucial step toward safeguarding the country’s digital ecosystem and a reflection of the government’s whole-of-nation approach to cybersecurity.
Speaking at FAST National University, Islamabad, during an event titled “Securing Pakistan’s Digital Frontier: CyberShield, Policy & the Future,” the minister highlighted that the Act will lead to the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA). The authority will spearhead nationwide threat intelligence, incident response, and strategic security coordination.
Cybersecurity Act essential to national security, says IT minister – Pakistan – https://t.co/Vmd8qf1Kgp https://t.co/WpenwY0zs8 #CyberSecurity
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Ms Khawaja added that expansion of the Pakistan Computer Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) and the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP) will bolster Pakistan’s cyber preparedness. These initiatives aim to strengthen digital public infrastructure and enhance cyber resilience across key national sectors.
She emphasised that Pakistan aspires to build an innovation-driven digital nation where secure systems, technological progress, and skilled human capital advance simultaneously. The minister noted that the country’s digital transformation is gaining momentum, increasing the responsibility to protect critical infrastructure and citizen data.
Highlighting Pakistan’s Tier-1 position in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index, she said this achievement reflects the collective commitment of government, academia, and youth toward a secure technological future. She also pointed to advancements in AI-driven cybersecurity, dark-web monitoring, cloud security, and secure digital identity under the Cloud-First Policy.
Referring to the recent Marka-i-Haq, Ms Khawaja called it a defining moment showcasing the unity and resilience of national institutions and cyber experts. She said Pakistan’s effective cyber response demonstrated that the digital domain has become the first line of defence in modern warfare.
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During her visit, the minister toured FAST-NU’s IC Design Lab and met participants of Ignite’s flagship IC Design & Verification training programme. The 10-month initiative is preparing 30 young engineers, including seven women, to meet global semiconductor industry standards.