National Centre for Cyber Security (NCCS) has successfully completed a Monitoring and Evaluation visit to the National Cyber Security Auditing and Evaluation Lab (NCSAEL) at Military College of Signals (MCS), NUST, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity research and development across Pakistan. The visit brought together representatives from academia, government, and industry to review the laboratory’s progress and evaluate its contributions to the country’s cybersecurity ecosystem. The exercise reflects NCCS’s continued focus on supporting research excellence, innovation, and collaboration while ensuring that national cybersecurity initiatives remain aligned with evolving technological and security requirements.
The monitoring and evaluation visit was led by Air Marshal (R) Abdul Moeed Khan, Vice Chancellor of Air University, alongside Dr. Amjad Hussain, Director General (R&D), and Dr. Bashir, In charge (M&E), from Higher Education Commission (HEC). The delegation also included Dr. Ghalib Shah, Director of NCCS, Mr. Jawad Khalid Mirza, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Askari Bank, who participated as the industry expert, Mr. Muhammad Umair Chaudhry, Additional Director at ICO, and Ms. Maham Zafar, Project Coordinator at NCCS. The presence of representatives from higher education, industry, and government highlighted the collaborative approach being adopted to evaluate cybersecurity research initiatives and encourage stronger coordination between different stakeholders involved in advancing cybersecurity capabilities in Pakistan.
During the visit, the committee carried out a detailed review of the laboratory’s research activities, infrastructure, ongoing projects, research outcomes, and future development plans. The evaluation process focused on assessing the laboratory’s overall performance while examining the impact of its research on Pakistan’s cybersecurity landscape. The committee also reviewed the commercialization potential of research initiatives being undertaken at the facility, recognizing the importance of translating academic research into practical technologies and solutions that can support organizations and national institutions. In addition, discussions covered the laboratory’s strategic roadmap and its role in contributing to cybersecurity innovation, technology development, and capacity building. Such monitoring and evaluation exercises are intended to ensure that research centers continue to meet their objectives while delivering measurable value to the national cybersecurity framework through high quality research, industry engagement, and technological advancement.
NCCS reaffirmed its commitment to promoting excellence in cybersecurity research, innovation, and technology development through continuous monitoring, evaluation, and collaborative engagement with academic institutions, government organizations, and industry partners. By regularly assessing the progress of specialized cybersecurity laboratories such as NCSAEL, NCCS aims to encourage higher research standards, strengthen innovation capabilities, and support the development of technologies that address emerging cyber threats. The monitoring and evaluation initiative also reflects the organization’s broader objective of building a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem in Pakistan by supporting institutions that contribute to knowledge creation, technical expertise, and practical cybersecurity solutions. Through continued collaboration and structured evaluation, NCCS seeks to enhance the country’s research environment and reinforce national efforts to develop sustainable cybersecurity capabilities for the future.
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