[Dawn] The Senate Committee on Defence and Defence Production organised a policy seminar on "Defending Pakistain Through Cyber Security Strategy" in coordination with Pakistain Information Security Association (PISA) in order to address security issues related to the internet.The event was held at the Pakistain Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS) in the federal capital city of Islamabad in wake of startling revelations made by Edward Snowden who claimed that the American National Security Agency (NSA) was spying on Pakistain through internet and online communication systems with 13.5 billion pieces of email, phone and fax communications intercepted.
Senator Mushahid Hussain, Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence and Defence Production, in his welcoming address, highlighted the cyber security threat and how it can affect Pakistain'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.
"Cyber security is an issue of paramount importance for Pakistain's stability and progress," the Senator added.
"Our cyber security must have three fundamental elements. Pakistain's digital infrastructure must have the ability to resist attacks, cyber penetration and disruption; Defend against emerging cyber threats, whether state sponsored or otherwise, and ability to retaliate regionally, at least; Ability to recover quickly from cyber incidents, whether caused by cyber aggression, accident or natural disaster," said Mushahid Hussain while addressing the participants of the moot.
Since last year, the Senate Committee on Defence & Defence Production had identified cyber warfare as a new, non-military security threat to the country given its location and strategic role.
During the Q&A Session, Senator Farhatullah Babar suggested the formation of a focal ministry or division exclusively to handle cyber security issues.
He said laws for data protection should be introduced and in this regard, industry experts have to join hands with Parliamentarians.