Islamabad — Pakistan has moved to strengthen coordination between public institutions and the private sector in response to rising cyber risks, following a new cooperation agreement between the National Computer Emergency Response Team and international cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.
The memorandum of understanding signed by PKCERT and Kaspersky sets out a framework for joint efforts in cyber threat monitoring, incident response, skills development, and information sharing. Officials say the agreement is aimed at improving national readiness as digital systems become more deeply embedded in governance, business, and everyday life.
Emphasis on skills, coordination, and early warning
According to officials familiar with the agreement, the partnership will focus on building institutional capacity through training and awareness initiatives for government bodies, industry professionals, academic institutions, and civil society organizations. These programs are intended to improve technical skills and decision-making at both operational and policy levels.
Another key area of cooperation is the exchange of cyber threat intelligence, including technical data related to emerging attacks and vulnerabilities. By improving early warning mechanisms, the two sides aim to reduce response times and limit the impact of cyber incidents affecting public services, businesses, and individual users.
Broader scope beyond incident response
The MoU also covers collaboration on cybersecurity-related legislation and regulation, research and development activities, and professional exchanges. Officials said this broader scope reflects the need for long-term planning and policy alignment, rather than a narrow focus on responding to individual cyber incidents.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Haider Abbas, Director General of the National CERT, and Rashed Al Momani, General Manager for the Middle East and Pakistan at Kaspersky. The signing ceremony was attended by Eugene Kaspersky and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Information Technology.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abbas highlighted that while digital technologies are central to economic and social development, they have also introduced complex security challenges, including ransomware, cyber espionage, and threats to critical infrastructure. Rashed Al Momani said sustained collaboration between public authorities and private-sector experts was essential for secure and inclusive digital growth.
Officials noted that the partnership reflects Pakistan’s broader efforts to adapt its cybersecurity posture to evolving global and regional threat environments.
