In a significant step toward building cybersecurity awareness across Pakistan’s public administration, the National Computer Emergency Response Team (National CERT) has officially lauded the National School of Public Policy (NSPP) for proactively embedding a dedicated cybersecurity module into its Directors’ Training Program under the National Management Course (NMC). The course is tailored for senior civil servants in the BS-20 to BS-21 promotion zone and is conducted at Pakistan’s prestigious Administrative Staff College.
This milestone marks a crucial advancement in aligning national public governance with cybersecurity readiness. Recognizing the growing digital threats facing the country, NSPP’s move to include cybersecurity in its leadership curriculum reflects a forward-thinking approach aimed at ensuring that top-level government decision-makers are well-informed and resilient in the face of cyber risks.
In recognition of this initiative, Dr. Haider Abbas, TI, Director General of National CERT, was invited as a guest speaker to deliver a comprehensive lecture titled “From Vulnerabilities to Defenses: Cybersecurity Governance, Risks, Responses, and Resilience.” The session was attended by senior officers from elite branches of public service, including the Pakistan Administrative Service, Police Service of Pakistan, Pakistan Customs Service, Inland Revenue Service, and the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service.
During the lecture, Dr. Abbas provided deep insight into the evolving cybersecurity landscape in Pakistan, highlighting the most pressing threats to national digital infrastructure. His session focused on actionable strategies to defend against such threats, emphasizing the critical need for strategic cybersecurity governance at all institutional levels. He stressed that public sector leaders must take ownership of cybersecurity as an essential pillar of national resilience and good governance.
Dr. Abbas also introduced guidelines for strategic planning tailored to government departments and public offices, promoting the integration of best practices in cybersecurity policy, incident response frameworks, and resilience-building initiatives. The lecture served as both a call to action and a roadmap for embedding cybersecurity as a core element in institutional risk management.
The NSPP initiative and National CERT’s endorsement come at a time when digital transformation across public services is accelerating rapidly, making it imperative for civil servants to stay abreast of digital threats and emerging technologies. The training module, designed for top-tier bureaucrats, not only equips them with knowledge but also instills a culture of cybersecurity vigilance at the highest levels of decision-making.
National CERT reiterated its commitment to continue collaborating with public institutions to strengthen Pakistan’s cybersecurity posture, improve awareness, and enhance the nation’s capacity to respond to digital threats effectively.
This development underscores the growing recognition within Pakistan’s governance ecosystem that cybersecurity is no longer the sole domain of IT departments but a shared responsibility that starts at the top.
