Pakistan National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) has officially been accepted as a Full Member of Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), a globally recognized association of trusted Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) and cybersecurity organizations. The development marks an important step in strengthening Pakistan’s international cybersecurity engagement and expanding the country’s role in regional and global cyber defense collaboration. According to the announcement, PKCERT recently also became an operational member of APCERT, further increasing its participation in regional cybersecurity coordination and incident response activities. Through membership in both organizations, PKCERT is expected to strengthen its collaborative capabilities in addressing cybersecurity threats, responding to incidents, and sharing technical expertise with international partners.
FIRST is widely recognized as one of the leading global forums for cybersecurity incident response cooperation, bringing together security teams from governments, academia, and private sector organizations to improve cyber defense readiness and information sharing. By becoming a Full Member, PKCERT will be able to engage directly with international peers in areas including joint incident handling, cyber threat intelligence exchange, technical training, coordinated response activities, and cybersecurity exercises. Membership in FIRST also provides opportunities for trusted collaboration among incident response teams working to identify and mitigate cyber risks that increasingly affect governments, businesses, and critical infrastructure sectors. The inclusion of PKCERT in this network reflects Pakistan’s growing participation in international cybersecurity efforts aimed at improving digital resilience and strengthening response mechanisms against emerging cyber threats.
According to the statement, PKCERT’s acceptance as a Full Member of FIRST reflects the organization’s operational maturity, technical capabilities, and commitment to internationally recognized cybersecurity incident response standards. Officials described the recognition as a result of sustained efforts by National CERT and Ministry of IT and Telecommunication Pakistan to improve the country’s cyber resilience and build stronger international partnerships. The membership is also viewed as supporting Pakistan’s broader cybersecurity objectives by enabling increased cooperation, information sharing, and engagement with trusted cybersecurity institutions around the world. As cyber threats continue to evolve in complexity and scale, participation in global cybersecurity communities is increasingly considered important for improving preparedness, incident management, and institutional capacity.
PKCERT also acknowledged the role played by members of the international CERT ecosystem in supporting its development and operational growth. Special appreciation was extended to Malaysia Computer Emergency Response Team (MyCERT), APCERT, and Egyptian Computer Emergency Readiness Team (EG CERT) for their contributions toward collaboration, capacity building, and international cyber defense coordination. Officials noted that these partnerships have supported knowledge sharing and technical cooperation that contributed to PKCERT’s progress in strengthening cybersecurity capabilities and advancing Pakistan’s position within the global cybersecurity community.
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