ISLAMABAD: A two-day international workshop on *“Cybersecurity Landscape in OIC Countries: Issues and Prospects”* concluded at the COMSTECH headquarters in Islamabad, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger cooperation among Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to combat rising cyber threats.
Organized jointly by the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Huawei Technologies Pakistan, the event brought together cybersecurity experts and leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities in safeguarding the digital landscape, according to a statement issued by COMSTECH.
The workshop featured prominent speakers, including Fazlan Abdullah from Cybersecurity Malaysia, Fakhri Jafarov of Azerbaijan’s government CERT, Askar Dyussekeyev from Kazakhstan’s KZ-CERT, Prof. İbrahim Sogukpınar from Gebze Technical University, Türkiye, and Zareefa S. Mustafa of Nigeria’s National IT Development Agency.
In the inaugural session, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman, highlighted the significance of collaborative cybersecurity strategies at both national and international levels. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to creating a secure digital future through enhanced global partnerships.
Prof. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, proposed convening an OIC Ministerial Conference on cybersecurity to facilitate experience sharing and build robust cyber defenses. Announcing future initiatives, he unveiled plans for two global cybersecurity forums in Central Asia and Africa in collaboration with Huawei and OIC-CERT, aimed at capacity building and knowledge exchange.
Sun Xiaofei, CEO of Huawei Technologies Pakistan, underscored the critical role of technology companies in strengthening digital resilience. “At Huawei, cybersecurity remains a top priority. We are committed to supporting OIC countries in formulating frameworks and policies to address cyber challenges using our cutting-edge technology and global expertise,” he stated.
The workshop covered key topics such as *“5G Security and Privacy Protection,”* *“Securing Corporate Networks for SMEs,”* and the role of cybersecurity in digital transformation. Experts shared national initiatives from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Türkiye, offering insights into workforce development and policies to counter evolving cyber threats.
With over 300 participants attending in person and virtually, the workshop marked a significant step towards fostering collaboration among OIC nations to secure their digital economies. The event underscored the pressing need for unified efforts to address cybersecurity challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.
