Pakistan has accelerated the cybersecurity audit of government websites after recent hacking attempts targeted official and private online platforms, prompting authorities to strengthen digital security across state institutions.
The review is being carried out by the National CERT, which has launched a nationwide security assessment to identify weaknesses in government web systems and reduce the risk of cyberattacks or data breaches.
Officials said around 300 government websites were selected for the audit, including portals of ministries, attached departments, and other public institutions. So far, security checks have been completed for 280 websites, while the remaining 20 are still being reviewed, bringing the overall progress of the audit to about 93 percent.
Authorities added that the security reports have already been shared with the relevant ministries so they can take corrective action. The assessment identified several issues in servers, systems, and web applications, including critical, high, medium, and low-level vulnerabilities.
Government departments have been instructed to immediately strengthen cybersecurity measures, update their software systems, and install web application firewalls to prevent unauthorized access. Institutions have also been advised to improve monitoring systems and tighten access controls to protect sensitive information.
Officials said the audit may also reveal problems such as outdated systems, weak passwords, and poorly secured databases on some websites. Recommendations have been issued to fix these issues, improve backup systems, and upgrade vulnerable servers. In some cases, certain websites may be temporarily shut down or upgraded after the audit to ensure stronger protection against future cyberattacks.
