The proposed Pakistan Information Security Framework (PISF) introduces mandatory deadlines for reporting cybersecurity incidents across government ministries, departments, and public sector organizations, establishing a standardized approach to incident management and cyber resilience. The framework is designed to strengthen the protection of government information systems by defining reporting obligations, response procedures, and organizational responsibilities in the event of cybersecurity incidents. The proposed measures come at a time when public sector institutions are increasingly facing cyber risks that require coordinated response mechanisms and stronger governance practices.
Under the proposed framework, organizations designated as Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) will be required to immediately report verified cybersecurity incidents to their respective sectoral regulators, Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), and national CERT once an incident has been confirmed. A detailed incident report must then be submitted within 72 hours. Organizations that do not fall under the CII classification will also be subject to reporting obligations and will be required to notify the relevant sectoral regulator or CERT of all verified cybersecurity incidents within 120 hours. By introducing mandatory reporting timelines, the framework aims to improve visibility into cyber threats affecting public sector organizations and facilitate a coordinated response to incidents that may have broader implications for national security and government operations.
The framework also requires every organization to establish a comprehensive cybersecurity incident management policy that addresses preparedness, detection, response, mitigation, reporting, recovery, remediation, and post incident analysis. Organizations will be expected to classify incidents according to their severity and potential impact while maintaining clearly defined roles and responsibilities for managing incidents throughout their lifecycle. The proposed framework places significant emphasis on preparedness and requires institutions to maintain adequate resources, train personnel, and conduct regular exercises and simulations to evaluate their response capabilities. According to the framework, these drills should help identify weaknesses in existing procedures, improve operational readiness, strengthen management oversight, and enhance the ability of organizations to respond effectively during cyber emergencies.
In addition to reporting and preparedness requirements, PISF recommends that organizations assess the need for Security Operations Centres, Security Information and Event Management platforms, and other monitoring technologies that can improve detection and response capabilities. The framework also mandates that organizations document lessons learned following every cybersecurity incident and implement corrective actions within defined timelines to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents recurring in the future. Furthermore, the proposed framework links cybersecurity incident management with broader business continuity and disaster recovery planning by requiring organizations to establish recovery objectives, conduct annual continuity exercises, and maintain documented procedures for communication, recovery, and restoration during cyber emergencies. The proposed measures reflect a broader effort to strengthen cybersecurity governance within Pakistan’s public sector by introducing standardized compliance requirements and promoting a more structured and resilient approach to managing cyber incidents and operational disruptions.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
