The Secretariat Training Institute (STI) hosted an insightful session featuring Dr. Haider Abbas, Director General, National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT), Government of Pakistan. The event, part of the Domain-Specific Training for the Mid-Career Management Course (MCMC) participants, focused on raising awareness and building capacity among public sector officers in cybersecurity and digital resilience.
During his address, Dr. Abbas discussed the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, explaining how global trends such as ransomware, social engineering, and cyber warfare tactics are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure and public institutions. He stressed the urgency of developing strong cyber resilience measures across all levels of government, emphasizing that preparedness and proactive defense strategies are essential to mitigate risks and ensure business continuity. Dr. Abbas underlined that cybersecurity is no longer a standalone technical matter but an integral part of governance, requiring collaboration across departments, policy integration, and consistent training for civil servants.
He further elaborated on the importance of establishing a robust cybersecurity culture within government institutions to protect national digital assets. Highlighting practical approaches, Dr. Abbas guided participants on embedding cybersecurity best practices into operational workflows, decision-making frameworks, and national digital transformation policies. He noted that cyber incidents often stem from human error or unawareness, which makes education, awareness, and policy alignment key components of a sustainable defense framework. The session provided participants with actionable strategies to improve response capabilities, strengthen institutional controls, and encourage cross-agency coordination in tackling cyber incidents.
Dr. Abbas also discussed the ongoing initiatives led by National CERT to enhance the country’s cybersecurity posture. These include fostering collaboration between public and private sector organizations, promoting real-time threat intelligence sharing, and developing mechanisms for national-level incident response. He shared how National CERT is working to establish a more secure and digitally resilient Pakistan through technical coordination, training programs, and continuous monitoring of emerging cyber trends. The participants appreciated the depth of insights shared and the relevance of the discussion to Pakistan’s growing need for digital readiness within government institutions.
The interactive session concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of collective responsibility in protecting Pakistan’s digital ecosystem. It reinforced that cybersecurity requires not only advanced technology but also informed leadership, policy-driven governance, and ongoing collaboration across all sectors of the public service community.
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