Atlast ! Cyber Security Policy for Pakistan- Inter Services Cyber Command

Senate Committee on Defence and Defence Production Chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed Monday stressed on establishing a 'cyber security task force' in collaboration with various ministries and security organisations. In his address of welcome at a seminar on 'Defending Cyber Security Strategy for Pakistan,' Senator Mushahid presented his seven-point action plan for promoting cyber security in the country. 

He apprehended that this cyber security threat can affect Pakistan's national defence, security, intelligence, diplomacy, nuclear and missile programme, economy, energy, education, civil aviation as well as industrial and manufacturing units both in the private and public sector. So cyber security is an issue of paramount importance for Pakistan's stability and progress. 

Mushahid quoted that even President Obama has declared that the "cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we faces as a nation" and that "America's prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cyber security." He maintained that Pakistan's cyber security has to have three fundamental elements. Pakistan's digital infrastructure must have the ability to 

                                                                 - resist attacks, 

                                                                 - cyber penetration 

                                                                 - disruption. 

Defend against emerging cyber threats, whether state sponsored or otherwise, and ability to retaliate regionally, at least. The country should have ability to recover quickly from cyber incidents whether caused by cyber aggression, accident or natural disaster. 

Following the recommendations made in seminar, action plan for a Cyber Secured Pakistan has been proposed which includes relevant legislation to preserve, protect and promote Pakistan cyber security, drafting for which has already begun. Bills in Parliament for Cyber Security will be tabled. 

Cyber security threat should be accepted and recognised as new, emerging national security threat by the Government of Pakistan, similar to the threats like terrorism and military aggression. Establishing a National Computer Emergency Response Team (PKCERT). Establishing a Cyber-Security Task Force with affiliation of Ministry of Defence, Ministry of IT, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information and our security organisations plus relevant and leading professionals from the private security so that Pakistan can take steps to combat this new emerging threat and formulate Cyber Security Strategy for Pakistan. 

Under the office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, an Inter-Services Cyber Command should be established to co-ordinate cyber security and cyber defence for the Pakistan Armed Forces. Within the framework of Saarc, Pakistan should take the initiative to initiate talks among the 8-member states particularly India to establish acceptable norms of behaviour in cyber security among the SAARC countries so that these countries are not engaged in cyber warfare against each other. If Pakistan and India can have an agreement not to attack each other nuclear installations, why not an agreement could be reached seeking the prevention of cyber warfare against each other, the committee recommended. 

* source of report is dependent and copied from Business recorder