On Friday, Pakistan’s elevation to the top tier of a global cybersecurity index was celebrated by the State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
Pakistan has been ranked in Tier 1 of the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 report. This tier, the highest of the five and labeled “role-modelling,” includes countries with scores between 95 and 100, and features 46 nations. In the previous report, Pakistan was ranked 79.
At a press conference in Islamabad, Khawaja noted that the report highlights Pakistan’s advancements in legal, technical, capacity development, skill development, and organizational aspects as exemplary.
“The Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 shows significant improvements by countries that are implementing essential legal measures, plans, capacity-building initiatives, and cooperation frameworks, especially in strengthening incident response capabilities,” the report quoted Khawaja as saying.
“Pakistan has performed exceptionally well in the latest ranking and has been placed in Tier 1, alongside countries like the United States, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia.”
“It is an honor for the nation and the IT industry that Pakistan is now included in the top tiers of cybersecurity,” she added.
Khawaja also commended the collaborative efforts of various departments, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Planning Commission Ministry, the Defence Ministry, law enforcement agencies, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), in reaching this milestone.
She expressed gratitude to the provinces and all stakeholders for their contributions to strengthening Pakistan’s cybersecurity infrastructure and advancing digital progress across the country.
Khawaja thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his crucial role in this historic achievement, highlighting his steadfast support and interest in the IT sector. She emphasized that his leadership has been vital in enhancing Pakistan’s global cybersecurity standing.
She acknowledged the Prime Minister’s efforts in ensuring policy continuity, which played a significant role in this success, and noted that the consistency of policies during both the Pakistan Democratic Movement and interim governments has been beneficial.
Additionally, Khawaja outlined the Ministry of Information Technology’s efforts that contributed to this success, including training young people in cybersecurity—a leading field for global job opportunities.
She also mentioned that Google has invested in Pakistan for the first time and plans to manufacture Chromebooks in the country.
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Khawaja announced that Islamabad is set to become a “Model Digital City,” aiming to integrate advanced technology for the benefit of its residents. This pilot project will provide access to over 150 government services through a new app.
The app will offer services from the Capital Development Authority, Islamabad Police, health services, and educational institutions, and will also feature an e-parking facility to enhance parking management in the city.
