ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said the IT sector was playing an effective role in country's progress.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, she emphasised the importance of collective efforts to ensure resilience in view of climate change threat.
Regarding the ongoing digitization process in the country, Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government was going to introduce digitisation in the agriculture sector for devising precise strategies and taking informed decisions.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government was coming up with a "Smart Phone for All" policy in near future to ensure that every individual be able to afford a smart phone on easy installment.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) held the Cybersecurity Awards 2024 on Tuesday to honour outstanding achievements in enhancing cybersecurity within Pakistan’s telecom sector.
In her address, Khawaja reaffirmed the government’s commitment to establishing a robust cybersecurity framework critical for the country’s economic and digital stability.
She said Pakistan has been recognized in the Top Tier-1 (Role-Modelling) category of the ITU-Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI_V5) 2024. This recognition highlighted the nation’s progress in bolstering cybersecurity and resilience, a testament to the collective efforts of the Ministry, stakeholders in government, industry, academia, and law enforcement agencies.
She said the PTA had introduced critical telecom data infrastructure regulations, encouraging operators to adopt substantial cybersecurity measures to enhance overall preparedness. She shared insights from her recent visit to Karachi, where the Digital Pakistan Cybersecurity Hackathon 2024 was launched.
LEGISLATION ON CARD
She announced plans for legislation to establish a National Digital Commission, which will be headed by the Prime Minister and include representation from the provinces and the private sector, to enhance national cybersecurity.She said, “We will bring legislation in this regard within a week.”
She also highlighted the government’s efforts to support the business community through the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s (SIFC) one-window operation. She said the IT Ministry has three primary goals: nationalisation, technological advancement, and employment creation.
In his keynote address, Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman HI(M), Chairman of PTA, emphasised the need for a proactive cybersecurity culture and collaboration among all stakeholders to secure Pakistan’s digital landscape.
He reiterated that national security remains the top priority and that adherence to rules and regulations was essential in achieving these objectives. 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. Cyber security awards celebrate the telecom industry’s dedication to strengthening security frameworks, showcasing advancements toward a more resilient telecom infrastructure.