On May 27, 2025, P@SHA and National Centre for Cyber Security (NCCS) formalized a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at AIR University aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s cybersecurity landscape. The agreement focuses on deepening collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovation in indigenous cybersecurity solutions and reinforce the country’s cyber ecosystem. This collaboration aligns with national priorities to bolster cyber defenses and develop homegrown expertise amid rising global cyber threats.
The MoU was signed by Ali Hasani, Secretary General of P@SHA, and Dr. Ammar Masood, Director of NCCS and Dean of the Faculty of Computing & AI at AIR University. The ceremony coincided with the opening of the Annual Final Year Projects Expo at AIR University, an event showcasing emerging talent and innovation from Pakistan’s next generation of tech professionals. Dr. Sonia Saleem, CEC Member and Chair of P@SHA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts to build a resilient cyber future.
The event gathered key figures from academia and cybersecurity, including Dr. Zunera Jalil, Dean of NCCS at AIR University, who emphasized the need for academic institutions to play a pivotal role in developing local cyber capabilities. Dr. Mehdi Hassan, Head of the Computer Science Department, and Dr. Hameedur Rahman, Ph.D. and Head of the Game Development Department at AIR University, participated actively in discussions aimed at fostering cross-disciplinary research and practical cybersecurity applications. Their involvement underscores the broad-based approach to cybersecurity education, integrating diverse technical disciplines to meet complex security challenges.
Program management and coordination support was provided by Mr. Wehaaj Sulehri, Manager of the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) at AIR University, along with Mr. Bilal Afzal, Program Manager at NCCS, both of whom play critical roles in advancing research initiatives and facilitating productive industry partnerships. This MoU paves the way for joint projects, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building programs designed to nurture cybersecurity talent and enhance Pakistan’s readiness against cyber threats.
The partnership between P@SHA and NCCS highlights the growing recognition of cybersecurity as a strategic priority for Pakistan’s digital economy and national security. By combining P@SHA’s strong industry representation with NCCS’s research and academic excellence, this alliance aims to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation, knowledge transfer, and development of cybersecurity technologies tailored to local needs. It also signals a commitment to reduce reliance on foreign technologies and promote self-sufficiency in safeguarding digital assets.
As Pakistan’s digital footprint expands rapidly across sectors including finance, telecommunications, and government services, strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure becomes essential to protect critical data and maintain trust in digital platforms. This MoU signifies a proactive approach to addressing cybersecurity challenges by encouraging collaborative innovation and training highly skilled professionals capable of defending against sophisticated cyber threats.
The signing event at AIR University not only celebrated this strategic collaboration but also underscored the vital role educational institutions have in advancing cybersecurity research and workforce development. Through sustained partnerships like this, Pakistan is positioning itself to build a robust cybersecurity ecosystem equipped to meet the demands of a digitally interconnected world.
Source: LinkedIn
