Pakistan’s Cybersecurity Technology Ready for Foreign Investment

Cyber security, also known as Information technology security, consists of technologies, processes, and practices formed to protect networks, devices, programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorised access.

Cyber security is important for a country as government, military, corporate, financial, and medical organisations collect, process, and store unprecedented amounts of data on computers and other devices.

A significant segment of that data can have sensitive information, be its property, financial, personal, and other types of data. Any anonymous exposure or unauthorised access to such data could have negative consequences.

Whenever there is technological advancement, there will always be those who would exploit them for their gains. Cyber security describes a disciplinary mechanism to protect any sensitive information and the system used to process or store it.

Cyber-attacks and digital spying are the top threat to national security, eclipsing even terrorism. Pakistan is also facing threats from the cyber world. In Pakistan, cybercrime has been spreading into the institutions of banking, education, telecom sector, military and government sectors.

In response to these threats, Pakistan passed an Act in 2016, the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act. According to the Act, any unauthorised access to an information system constitutes a punishable offence, including jail and a fine.

For academic research on cybercrime, a National Centre for Cyber Security has been established to produce indigenous professionals and solutions in cyber security. Moreover, a National Cyber Security Policy was formed in 2021 to strengthen and improve the country’s cyber security outlook for today and in future.

Several foreign companies have shown interest in investing in Pakistan’s cyber security technology. Recently, three German companies have decided to invest in Pakistan and have already registered themselves.

Furthermore, a business event for German companies will be organised in Pakistan by the end of June. The joint venture will further boost Pakistan’s cyber security and improve socio-economic development and national security.