Strong Cybersecurity Essential for Digital Growth and Foreign Investment, Says Shiza Fatima Khawaja

Islamabad: Shiza Fatima Khawaja has emphasized that strengthening cybersecurity is crucial for fostering digital development and building full confidence in foreign investment in Pakistan.

She highlighted that over 32 government services have been fully digitized, and citizens can now access NADRA documents through mobile applications.

Addressing a cybersecurity event, Khawaja said that further progress and investment require robust laws, policies, and systems to ensure cybersecurity across the country. “Until a strong cybersecurity framework is established in Pakistan, full confidence in business opportunities and foreign investment cannot be achieved,” she noted.

The minister emphasized that cybersecurity is not only a technological matter but also directly linked to personal identity, individual safety, family protection, and national security. She added that as the world moves rapidly toward digitalization, the health sector is also leveraging advanced technologies, which create better treatment opportunities but increase the risks of data misuse.

Khawaja warned that access to population genetic data could lead to potential misuse, making strong cybersecurity indispensable in the digital era. She said the government is actively strengthening cybersecurity systems, implementing the Cybersecurity Act, and empowering relevant institutions.

Highlighting the importance of specialized skills, the federal minister said that the government is providing dedicated resources and institutional support to ensure that Pakistan remains secure and resilient in its digital economy.