Pakistan’s higher education sector is set for stronger cybersecurity coordination after HEC and National CERT signed a new agreement.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement aims to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation and resilience across the higher education sector, including universities.
A key part of the initiative involves establishing the Pakistan Education & Research Network (PERN)/HEC as the Education Sector Computer Emergency Response Team (EduCERT).
The new mechanism will give universities and higher education institutions a dedicated platform for cybersecurity coordination, information sharing and threat response.
EduCERT to Coordinate University Cybersecurity
EduCERT will operate through PERN as a coordinated cybersecurity platform for Pakistan’s higher education sector.
The platform will support several areas of cybersecurity preparedness and response across universities and other higher education institutions.
These areas include cyber threat monitoring, incident coordination, information sharing and security awareness.
It will also focus on strengthening institutional cyber resilience as emerging digital threats continue to evolve.
Through EduCERT, universities will be able to exchange threat intelligence, cybersecurity knowledge and established best practices.
As a result, institutions can develop more coordinated approaches to identifying, preparing for and responding to emerging cyber threats.
HEC and National CERT Strengthen Cybersecurity Cooperation
The agreement creates a dedicated mechanism for greater cybersecurity coordination across Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Universities and higher education institutions will have a structured platform for sharing relevant information about cyber threats and incidents.
Moreover, the initiative is intended to encourage greater cooperation between institutions dealing with cybersecurity challenges.
The exchange of threat intelligence and knowledge can also support stronger institutional preparedness.
EduCERT will therefore bring several cybersecurity functions together through PERN under the higher education sector’s dedicated response mechanism.
Focus on Cyber Preparedness
HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar stressed the importance of stronger cybersecurity across higher education institutions.
He said effective cybersecurity is essential for protecting digital infrastructure, academic systems and institutional data.
He also highlighted the need for coordinated efforts and timely information sharing as cyber threats continue to evolve.
According to him, institutions also need stronger internal capacity to identify and address emerging cybersecurity challenges.
EduCERT will provide universities with a structured mechanism to collaborate on these efforts.
The initiative is also expected to support institutions in improving their overall cybersecurity preparedness.
With universities increasingly relying on digital infrastructure and academic systems, the new cooperation framework focuses on building stronger coordination across the higher education sector.
The agreement between HEC and National CERT consequently establishes a dedicated cybersecurity mechanism for universities and higher education institutions across Pakistan.
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