ISLAMABAD – The federal government of Pakistan has announced plans to establish a dedicated cybersecurity authority aimed at strengthening national cyber defenses and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
According to official sources, the proposed authority will play a central role in implementing cybersecurity measures across the country and will advise on strategies to protect “critical national infrastructure” from cyber threats.
The Ministry of Information Technology has circulated the draft Cybersecurity Act to stakeholders for consultation. In addition, the government is proposing amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to support the new framework.
Under the proposed amendments, a Digital Rights Protection Authority would be created with powers to regulate online content, control the spread of fake news, and establish a specialized investigative agency to probe cybercrimes.
Officials said the initiative is intended to curb cybercrimes targeting state institutions and strengthen monitoring of online activities.
The data indicated that more than 5.3 million cyberattacks were reported in Pakistan during the first three quarters of 2025, underscoring the urgency of enhanced cybersecurity measures.
