ISLAMABAD
Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman, highlighted the importance of a secure and reliable digital ecosystem for Pakistan’s digital development.
Addressing the concluding session of the closing ceremony of Cyber Security Awareness Week 2026, organised by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), he underscored PTA’s initiatives to counter cyber threats, digital fraud and misinformation, as well as its focus on public awareness and inter-agency collaboration.
He said almost 100 million Pakistanis were using social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and TikTok, reflecting the growing level of digital connectivity in the country.
Referring to social media engagement, he said more than 1,500 million videos were viewed on TikTok in Pakistan every day.
He observed that digital technology had transformed people’s daily routines, with mobile phones and social media becoming an integral part of their lives.
He said Pakistan was embracing new technologies and seeking to keep pace with the global community.
He added that the government had taken initiatives in areas such as 5G and artificial intelligence to ensure that the country kept pace with developed nations.
He said emerging technologies offered significant opportunities, particularly for young people, who represented the country’s future.
The PTA chairman stressed that cybersecurity awareness should not remain limited to an annual event but should become a continuous national effort.
“Cybersecurity is an integral part of the country’s overall security ecosystem,” he said, adding that cyberattacks were no longer occasional incidents but a continuous threat.
Highlighting the government’s vision of a cashless economy and digital society, he said secure digital systems were essential for transparent and efficient digital governance and economic activities.
He stressed the need to extend cybersecurity awareness to every corner of the country and educate citizens about vulnerabilities associated with digital connectivity.
He said the government could formulate policies and regulators could enforce regulations, but public awareness and confidence were equally important for ensuring the security of digital systems.
“People must have confidence that our systems are secure,” he said.
He also acknowledged the contributions of telecom operators and industry partners, saying they had played an important role in recognising the importance of cybersecurity.
He said cybersecurity was not about winning awards or receiving certificates but about the collective responsibility to ensure a safe and secure future for the people of Pakistan.
He thanked the PTA team, telecom operators and industry partners for their efforts to strengthen the security of the country’s telecom sector.
