The Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases has given its approval to the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Rules. Sources within the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication have confirmed that the CERT Rules have been approved by the Cabinet Committee and will now be sent to the cabinet for final approval.
The Ministry of IT had prepared the draft CERT rules and sought input from government and private sector regulators to ensure comprehensive and effective regulations. The draft rules were shared with entities such as the Federal Board of Revenue, ministries, the banking sector, PEMRA, OGRA, PTA, and other institutions. Valuable suggestions and feedback were collected from these stakeholders, and the final draft was submitted to the Cabinet Committee for approval.
Upon the approval of the CERT Rules, a comprehensive strategy against cyber-attacks will be implemented at the organizational level. The rules mandate the formation of computer emergency response teams at the sector level, which will collaborate with and assist the private sector in enhancing their cybersecurity measures.
As part of the National Cyber Security Policy 2021, the establishment of a National Computer Emergency Response Team and a National Security Operation Center (nSOC) is planned to effectively mitigate cyber threats. Additionally, sectoral CERTs will be established in defense, telecom, banking and finance, power, and at the federal and provincial levels to combat cyber attacks and address the malicious use of ICTs in cyberspace.
The approval of the CERT Rules marks a significant step towards strengthening cybersecurity in Pakistan and ensuring a proactive response to emerging threats in the digital landscape.
