Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (Retd) Hafeez ur Rehman has emphasized the urgent need to adopt rapidly evolving technologies while maintaining strong public trust and robust cybersecurity safeguards.

Speaking at a cybersecurity workshop and awards ceremony, he confirmed that the PTA is actively preparing to roll out 5G services in Pakistan, noting that countries like China are already in discussions about 6G. He stressed that cybersecurity will be a cornerstone for successful 5G deployment.

Highlighting the double-edged nature of technological advances, the chairman pointed out that artificial intelligence, while highly effective, is also being exploited to create fake audio and video content. He identified the prevention of financial fraud as a major challenge and said PTA is actively working to counter such threats.

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He further announced that the regulatory framework for the Pakistan Satellite Internet Regulatory Body (PSARB) is ready, paving the way for the launch of satellite internet services in the country. The chairman underscored the importance of data sovereignty, citizen privacy, secure internet use, and responsible social media practices, assuring the public that the PTA is committed to protecting their data.

PTA Director General Cyber Vigilance Dr. Mukaram Khan also addressed the event, revealing that Pakistan has successfully thwarted Indian cyber warfare attempts and that no major cyberattacks have hit the telecom sector. He said Pakistan’s telecom cybersecurity standards have significantly improved, with the sector achieving a score of 8.8 out of 10.

He added that PTA regularly conducts third-party cybersecurity audits of all telecom operators and continues to address any vulnerabilities to further strengthen the system.