The Government of Pakistan has announced measures to enhance cyber security and combat the spread of misinformation on social media by deploying advanced firewalls through internet service providers.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has initiated a tender inviting bids for the installation of next-generation firewalls (NGFW) and web application firewalls (WAF) over the next five years.
Under Lot A, the NGFWs, sourced from China, will offer robust security and reliability features. These include advanced threat prevention, URL filtering, application control, sandboxing for malware protection, DNS security, and virtual firewall systems with VPN services. Hardware warranties with next business day (NBD) service will minimize downtime and ensure prompt technical support.
These NGFWs are tailored to detect and block social media accounts disseminating false political propaganda against state institutions, thereby curbing the spread of misleading information.
Lot B will deploy WAFs to monitor and filter HTTP traffic to and from web applications. Specifications include advanced load balancing, multiple ports with redundant power supplies, and a comprehensive five-year hardware warranty for continuous protection.
NGFWs will employ deep packet inspection, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and application awareness to identify and block anti-state content in real-time, enforce security policies based on user identities and device types, and integrate threat intelligence for proactive defense.
Similarly, WAFs will mitigate threats such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting, offering analytics to identify attack patterns and strengthen defense strategies.
Bids are invited through the EPADS System of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), with a submission deadline of July 26. The installation costs will be shared between internet service providers and the government.
The initiative underscores Pakistan’s commitment to bolstering cyber defenses and ensuring online safety amid evolving digital threats.
