Participation in Pakistan–UNIDIR Cyber Capacity-Building Initiative
Dr Anum A. Khan participated in the Pakistan–United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Cyber Capacity-Building and Policy Training Programme held in Islamabad from 12–16 January. The initiative brought together key national stakeholders for an intensive week of policy dialogue, technical sessions, cyber drills, and scenario-based tabletop exercises.
Organized by UNIDIR in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan, and supported by Global Affairs Canada, the programme aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s cyber resilience by enhancing coordination across institutions and aligning policy decision-making with technical response capabilities.
The training focused on developing integrated, whole-of-government approaches to address the evolving cyber threat landscape. It emphasized strengthening strategic, legal, and diplomatic frameworks alongside applied technical expertise, while also enhancing response readiness for incidents affecting critical information infrastructure.
Dr Khan actively contributed to discussions on cyber threats, governance frameworks, and international cyber norms. Her engagement was marked by critical analysis and dialogue on emerging technologies, incident response mechanisms, malicious ICT activities, and the United Nations framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.
Bringing together over 70 experts from government, academia, the private sector, civil society, and national and provincial Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), the programme fostered cross-disciplinary collaboration and practical, scenario-based learning. These engagements significantly contributed to strengthening national preparedness, crisis management capabilities, and coordinated responses to cyber challenges.
This international engagement reflects Dr. Khan’s continued contribution to advancing cyber stability, responsible technology governance, and strategic policy discourse at both national and global levels.
