Pakistan ranks among 46 top-tier countries in ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024

State minister for IT praises report for recognising advancements in legal, technical, capacity and skill development

ISLAMABAD:

Shaza Fatima Khawaja, State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, announced on Friday that Pakistan’s inclusion in the top tiers of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) is a significant achievement for the country’s IT industry.

During a press conference, Shaza highlighted that Pakistan’s previous ranking in the ITU 2021 Global Cybersecurity Index was 79th. However, the latest report has elevated Pakistan to the top tier, placing it among the 46 leading countries in cybersecurity.

The minister praised the report for recognising Pakistan’s advancements in legal, technical, capacity development, skill development, and organisational areas as exemplary.

The GCI 2024 report noted that countries in this top tier have made substantial progress in implementing essential legal measures, plans, capacity-building initiatives, and cooperative frameworks, particularly in strengthening incident response capabilities.

“Pakistan has performed exceptionally well in the latest ranking and has been placed in Tier 1, alongside countries like the United States, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia,” she said.

“It is an honour for the nation and the IT industry that Pakistan is now included in the top tiers of cybersecurity,” she added.

She outlined the Ministry of Information Technology's initiatives that contributed to this success, including the training of young people in cybersecurity. She also announced that Google had made its first investment in Pakistan and plans to manufacture Chromebooks in the country.

Looking ahead, Shaza revealed plans to transform Islamabad into a Model Digital City. This project aims to integrate advanced technology to benefit residents and will introduce an app offering over 150 government services.

The app will include services from the Capital Development Authority, Islamabad Police, health services, and educational institutions. It will also feature an e-parking facility to enhance parking management in the city.