The federal government has made the decision to examine the social media policies put in place by the previous PTI administration. The government has already established a committee in this respect.
Officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) informed the Standing Committee on IT and Telecom of the National Assembly of this during their briefing. The first meeting of the committee will occur on September 8, 2022, and the standing committee was informed of this.
The standing committee, presided over by Khan Muhammad Jamali, was briefed by the officials that the IT Ministry has begun developing the Cyber Security Policy. The National Cyber Security Authority, National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), and Sectoral CERT will be established in accordance with the policy. Currently, work is underway to hire staff and set up modern laboratories for national cert.
The officials said that the IT Ministry had prepared the draft of CERT rules, which would be sent to the cabinet after approval by the Law Ministry.
Naz Baloch, a committee member, noted that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) website, which houses the personal information of every resident of Pakistan, has recently experienced two hacks. Jaweria Zafar, a different group participant, said that someone acquired her fingerprints through social media posts and used them to break into her bank account. However, despite her repeated protests, nothing was done about it.
The committee’s members voiced alarm over the nation’s increasing rate of cybercrime. The members were reassured by the IT ministry officials that they are closely collaborating with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to reduce the incidences of cybercrime.
The committee was briefed on the PSDP project on the establishment of a Semi-conductor Chip Design Facilitation Centre and Network, at a cost of Rs. 169.500 million, with a completion date of 30 June 2023. Similarly, the project of Up-gradation of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication facility is worth Rs. 93.500 million, and the completion date is 30 June 2023.
Briefing on the research achievement the committee was apprised that the design and development of customized solutions for the defense sector and artificial intelligence (AI) based on an Intelligent Vehicle detection system are also included. The committee was briefed that including the research achievement, the railway’s outdated old machinery was repaired and maintained, which could not be repaired elsewhere.
