Pakistan to develop e-governance council for policy formulation

ISLAMABAD: National Security Advisor Lt General (Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua Tuesday said that Pakistan needed to excel and develop an e-governance council for policy formulation according to globally acceptable parameters.

The advisor expressed these views while addressing a closing ceremony “Cyber Secure Pakistan – Policy Framework” arranged by CGSS.

The aim of the seminar was to create awareness among the masses regarding the new emerging technologies in the cyber world and to devise a unified cyber security policy of the country as the mechanisms to regulate the cyber space had become an important feature of national security.

The seminar is an initiative to formulate a consolidated cyber security strategy.

He said that with growing digitalization of cyber space, new threats are emerging pertaining to defence and security.

The advisor said that the whole sphere had been endangered and it was need of the hour to get out of the consumer market and venture into new dimensions.

“Pakistan is engulfed in traditional threats and insecurities due to which the new emerging threats have been ignored hence, we have to do better more than ever before,” he added.

He further stated that most of the states are in the process to make a framework. While state remains principal political entity, the diffusion of technology has transcended into seen and unseen factors therefore, the country needed to protect information from being maliciously used against the state.

He said, “Excessive use of internet has put our security under the threat. Due to our increasing alliance on the internet, cyber security policy is becoming the need of the hour.”

He stressed the need to create awareness that cyber security was a matter of national security.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Zahir Ul Islam HI(M), (Retd) – Chairman CGSS in his opening remarks stated that the government must pass well-articulated legislation that provided a legal framework for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to operate under.

A transparent process, with input from the private sector, needs to be developed for accessing communications data when national security is at risk. Pakistan must develop a centralised command that serves as the central organisation responsible for the development of military capabilities in the cyber realm.

This cyber command should be tasked with modernising Pakistan’s cyber defences, both in the military and civilian domain. The government, military, and the private sector must come together to develop a framework for securing the country’s critical infrastructure from cyberattacks.

Secretary National Security Division Syed Iftikhar Hussain Babar in his opening address highlighted the significance of cyber security.

He stated that Pakistan needed to focus on the development of National Security Command Authority. The threat of Cyber Warfare was real and protecting data was as important as protecting ourselves, he added.

He said that the situation in Pakistan was not discouraging. The government and many private institutions had made tangible efforts in this regard. Pakistan must establish its foothold in cyber space and formulate its state policy, before the world further enhances its capabilities in this field.

Member Telecom, Ministry of Information Technology, Mudassar Hussain on the occasion said that the relevant departments had been working on the strategy for cyber security, but due to lack of collaboration between these institutions, we had failed to develop a consolidated cybersecurity policy.

“We must devise a strategy which the users have faith in and the user must be aware of the steps he can take to ensure its own security. We also need to work on a model for international collaboration. This is a collective initiative which is being delayed due to non-consensus of all the relevant departments.”