ISLAMABAD (APP) - Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb here on Saturday said that strengthening cybersecurity is integral not only to protecting financial infrastructure but also to supporting Pakistan’s broader digital transformation and economic development objectives.
The minister chaired a virtual meeting with Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of commercial banks, along with their Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), said a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting focused on enhancing cybersecurity preparedness across Pakistan’s financial sector in light of emerging technological risks and evolving threat dynamics.
Welcoming the participants, the Finance Minister appreciated the active engagement of financial institutions, regulators, and technical experts, and underscored the importance of coordinated efforts to safeguard critical financial infrastructure.
He emphasized that as Pakistan’s financial ecosystem continues to digitize, strengthening cyber resilience must remain a central policy priority.
A detailed presentation was delivered outlining the evolving cyber threat landscape, including the growing sophistication of AI-enabled cyber tools capable of identifying vulnerabilities, developing exploits, and executing multi-stage attacks at unprecedented speed.
The presentation highlighted potential exposure across digital banking channels, payment systems, and core financial infrastructure, while emphasizing the need for enhanced vigilance and preparedness.
The discussion also drew on international experiences, noting recent cyber risk trends in countries such as Japan and India, where financial ecosystems have faced increasing exposure to attacks targeting digital payment platforms and interconnected systems.
The participants observed that these developments offer valuable lessons for strengthening Pakistan’s defensive capabilities and institutional readiness.
Participants were also apprised of evolving international policy responses to emerging AI-driven cyber risks.
It was noted that finance ministries and central banks globally are increasingly treating such developments as high-priority systemic concerns, engaging through coordinated high-level platforms, including the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings and bilateral consultations with major financial institutions.
The discussion highlighted that Pakistan’s ongoing engagement on these issues is aligned with global efforts to strengthen next-generation financial infrastructure, enhance cyber resilience, and promote responsible innovation in the financial sector.