The Digital Pakistan Cybersecurity Hackathon 2024 culminated with a grand awards ceremony last week, celebrating the achievements of participants and marking a significant milestone in the country’s cybersecurity landscape. The event, a collaborative effort between Ignite – National Technology Fund, the Ministry of IT and Telecom Pakistan (MoITT), and National CERT, provided a platform for cybersecurity enthusiasts, professionals, and students to showcase their skills and address critical challenges.
The ceremony was graced by the honorable Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, who commended the organizers and participants for their dedication to enhancing cybersecurity awareness and fostering innovation within the digital sphere.
The hackathon featured a series of challenging activities, including a Capture the Flag (CTF) competition and Blue Teaming exercises, designed to test participants’ abilities in solving complex security problems and defending critical digital infrastructure.
The awards ceremony, held in Islamabad, recognized the winning teams and individuals while emphasizing the broader impact of the event on the Pakistani cybersecurity community. By fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective problem-solving, the hackathon aimed to build a robust and resilient cybersecurity ecosystem within the country.
National CERT received special recognition for its crucial role in the event’s success. Director General National CERT, Dr. Haider Abbas, TI, and Director Capacity Building, Mr. Khurram Javed, were presented with awards for their invaluable contributions.
The Digital Pakistan Cybersecurity Hackathon 2024 underscored the government’s commitment to nurturing local talent, providing hands-on learning opportunities, and addressing the growing cybersecurity challenges facing the nation. The successful collaboration between government agencies, industry professionals, and participants has laid a strong foundation for future cybersecurity initiatives in Pakistan.
