LAHORE: The National Computer Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) and global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen the country’s national cybersecurity framework through closer cooperation on threat detection, mitigation and prevention.
Under the MoU, the partnership will focus on enhancing Pakistan’s cyber resilience through a series of coordinated initiatives, including training and awareness programmes aimed at improving operational readiness across government, industry, academia and civil society. The collaboration will also emphasise capacity-building to develop a skilled cybersecurity workforce aligned with national and international standards. In addition, the two organisations will work to ensure the timely sharing of actionable cyber threat intelligence with relevant stakeholders across Pakistan.
The agreement provides for cooperation across a broad range of cybersecurity areas, including legislative and regulatory matters, incident detection and response, prevention and mitigation strategies, cybersecurity education, research and development, and professional exchanges. PKCERT and Kaspersky will also exchange relevant technical information, threat intelligence and data feeds related to cyber threats and cyberattacks affecting citizens, businesses and government institutions in Pakistan.
The MoU was signed by Dr Haider Abbas, director general of the National CERT, Government of Pakistan, and Rashed Al Momani, general manager for the Middle East and Pakistan at Kaspersky, in the presence of Kaspersky CEO Eugene Kaspersky and Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
“Information and communication technologies play a vital role in a country’s socio-economic development, but they have also introduced new challenges, including cyber espionage, hacktivism, ransomware, data breaches, identity theft, attacks on critical infrastructure, financial and supply chain disruptions, and disinformation campaigns,” Dr Abbas said. “Our collaboration with Kaspersky, a global leader with expertise in these areas, represents another important step towards strengthening national cybersecurity.”
Rashed Al Momani said safeguarding digital development requires robust cybersecurity built on sustained partnerships between public authorities and private companies. “Kaspersky has a long history of working with global and regional organisations such as Interpol and Afripol, as well as local computer emergency response teams worldwide. We highly value this cooperation with PKCERT as an important step in supporting Pakistan’s secure digital transformation,” he said.
