In light of intensifying geopolitical tensions and the rapidly evolving cybersecurity threat landscape, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has issued a nationwide cybersecurity advisory, urging all companies—especially those operating in sensitive sectors—to immediately implement robust cyber defense mechanisms. The advisory, published on the SECP’s official website under Section 40(B) of the SECP Act, comes amid growing concerns about national security and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyberattacks.
This advisory coincides with the reported launch of a major cyber counter-offensive operation by Pakistan, codenamed Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, in response to recent Indian provocations. According to security sources, the operation targeted strategic sectors within India, causing widespread disruptions in power grids, petroleum infrastructure, and communication systems. Reports suggest that the operation succeeded in disabling official government email services and compromised India’s OTP infrastructure, inflicting severe damage to its digital operations.
While the SECP did not explicitly refer to this counter-operation in its statement, the timing of the advisory strongly suggests a preemptive measure to shield Pakistan’s corporate and financial sectors from potential retaliatory cyber strikes. The Commission highlighted that the emerging cyber risk environment poses serious threats to businesses, including operational breakdowns, data breaches, financial losses, and irreversible reputational harm.
To mitigate these risks, the SECP has issued a detailed set of recommendations for immediate compliance. Companies have been advised to activate multi-factor authentication across systems and enforce restricted access controls, limiting sensitive data exposure to only essential personnel. Furthermore, the regulator stressed the importance of conducting regular training for employees to identify phishing attempts and fake communications, which remain primary attack vectors for cybercriminals and hostile actors alike.
The SECP also underscored the necessity of routine vulnerability assessments to proactively detect and address system weaknesses before they can be exploited. In addition to online security enhancements, businesses are encouraged to maintain secure offline backups of critical data to ensure operational continuity in case of a breach or data loss.
Other vital measures include timely updates of antivirus and firewall systems, prompt patching of known software vulnerabilities, and hardening of devices to bolster system defenses. A strong emphasis was also placed on institutional preparedness, with the SECP recommending the formation of dedicated internal incident response teams capable of swiftly managing and mitigating cyber incidents.
Coordination with national cybersecurity bodies has also been prioritized. Companies are encouraged to regularly consult the Pakistan Computer Emergency Response Team (PakCERT) advisories and actively collaborate with relevant intelligence and cybersecurity agencies for real-time threat detection and information sharing.
In a strong concluding note, the Commission stated, “Proactive cybersecurity steps are essential to safeguard Pakistan’s financial and information infrastructure.” The SECP has also urged companies to maintain close communication with the regulator, especially regarding their progress in implementing the recommended cybersecurity measures.
This advisory serves as a stark reminder of the growing intersection between geopolitical conflict and cyber warfare. As the digital threat landscape continues to expand, Pakistan’s regulatory bodies appear to be taking a proactive approach in protecting its economic and technological ecosystem from both external threats and internal vulnerabilities.
