By Muhammad Zeeshan
TWA
A two-day international workshop on the theme “Cybersecurity Challenges and Opportunities in OIC Member States” commenced at the COMSTECH Secretariat, the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Pakistan.
The workshop is being jointly organized by COMSTECH and Huawei Technologies Pakistan Pvt. Ltd., with the aim of shedding light on the challenges and opportunities in cybersecurity faced by OIC member states.
The workshop features cybersecurity experts from various OIC member countries, including Fazlin Abdullah, Head of Cybersecurity Malaysia; Fakhri Jafarov, Head of Malware Research Lab at Azerbaijan’s CERT; Iskander Dusekeyev from Kazakhstan’s KZ-CERT; Professor Ibrahim Soğukpınar, Professor of Cybersecurity at Turkey’s Gebze Technical University; and Zarifa S. Mustafa, Manager of the Cybersecurity Department at Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (Retd.) Hafeez Ur Rehman, emphasized the importance of joint cybersecurity efforts at both national and international levels. Highlighting the significance of cybersecurity for safeguarding infrastructure and the digital economy, he reaffirmed Pakistan and PTA’s commitment to promoting international collaboration for a secure digital future.
Coordinator General of COMSTECH, Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, proposed organizing a ministerial conference under the OIC to establish a platform for experience sharing to build a robust defense mechanism for cyberspace across OIC countries. He also announced the organization of two global cybersecurity forums in collaboration with Huawei, focusing on Central Asia and Africa.
Huawei Technologies Pakistan CEO, Sun Xiaofei, highlighted the role of technology companies in advancing cybersecurity initiatives and emphasized their critical role in improving digital rights. He reiterated Huawei’s commitment to supporting OIC member states in addressing cybersecurity challenges and protecting the digital economy.
The workshop includes various sessions and panel discussions on topics such as “5G Security and Privacy Protection,” “Network and Data Protection Strategies for SMEs,” and “The Role of Cybersecurity in Digital Transformation.”
The opening ceremony was attended by ambassadors from Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Morocco, along with university vice-chancellors, heads of IT organizations, government representatives, and students.
Over 300 participants, both online and in person, are attending the workshop.
