National Database and Registration Authority concluded its first-ever Bug Bounty Challenge 2026 with a ceremony held at its headquarters in Islamabad, marking the culmination of a nationwide cybersecurity initiative aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s digital identity systems. Launched in January 2026, the challenge was designed to promote responsible vulnerability identification and advanced security assessment practices within critical digital infrastructure. The initiative was conducted under the Uraan Pakistan program and organised in collaboration with Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Digital Authority and National Cyber Emergency Response Team of Pakistan. The competition sought to engage young cybersecurity talent from across the country and provide them with a structured platform to test and enhance their skills in a controlled and ethical environment.
A total of 27 teams comprising 88 participants competed in regional rounds hosted at leading universities across Pakistan. These rounds were conducted at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Swabi, National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad, University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore and NED University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi. In total, 27 partner universities took part in the nationwide activity, including Sarhad University of Science & Technology in Peshawar, University of Gujrat and Military College of Signals among others. The regional competitions provided participants with exposure to real world cybersecurity scenarios and allowed them to demonstrate technical expertise in identifying and reporting potential system weaknesses responsibly.
The nationwide journey concluded with a ceremony at NADRA Headquarters attended by senior officials, representatives from partner institutions and participating teams. During the event, top performing teams were recognised for their achievements. University of Engineering and Technology Faisalabad Campus secured first position, while Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology won second prize. Teams from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology and International Islamic University Islamabad received consolation prizes in recognition of their commendable performance. The awards reflected both technical capability and adherence to ethical security testing standards established for the competition.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Monis Akhlaq, Chief Information Security Officer of NADRA, said that Bug Bounty Challenge 2026 represents a new approach to engaging cybersecurity talent across Pakistan. He noted that beyond the awards and recognition, the initiative helped build confidence and technical capability among participants while encouraging a shared sense of national responsibility among emerging cybersecurity professionals. By creating opportunities for collaboration between academia and national institutions, the challenge highlighted the importance of proactive security assessment and responsible disclosure practices in safeguarding Pakistan’s digital identity ecosystem.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
