Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has called on television news channels to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses as authorities work to protect the country’s broadcast infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
The advisory was issued during a meeting at the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) headquarters in Islamabad, where representatives from television news organizations and technical teams responsible for broadcast operations and digital platforms reviewed cybersecurity preparedness and incident response measures.
Government pushes stronger cyber defenses
Officials from NCERT and PEMRA briefed participants on cybersecurity standards, risk management strategies, and best practices for protecting television broadcasts, websites, and digital infrastructure from potential cyberattacks.
The session also emphasized closer coordination between regulators, cybersecurity specialists, and media organizations to improve the overall resilience of Pakistan’s broadcast sector against evolving cyber threats.
Committee monitoring security compliance
According to sources, the government established a dedicated committee following coordinated cyberattacks that targeted several leading television networks and their digital platforms in March 2026.
The committee has been tasked with monitoring compliance with national cybersecurity standards, evaluating security practices across media organizations, and encouraging broadcasters to adopt stronger cyber defense mechanisms.
Focus on early threat detection and rapid response
Participants discussed updated cybersecurity protocols aimed at improving the early detection of malicious activity, strengthening network security, and accelerating incident response to minimize disruptions in the event of future attacks.
Officials stressed that proactive monitoring, regular security assessments, and coordinated response mechanisms are essential to safeguarding Pakistan’s broadcast ecosystem.
March cyberattacks prompted security review
The latest cybersecurity initiative follows coordinated attacks in March that reportedly targeted major Pakistani news organizations, including Geo News, Samaa TV, and ARY News.
According to officials, the attacks temporarily disrupted live broadcasts and resulted in the defacement of several news websites with pro-Israel and Mossad-related messages, prompting investigations by the National Computer Emergency Response Team (PKCERT).
The government says strengthening cybersecurity across television networks remains a priority as cyber threats continue to evolve, with media organizations encouraged to enhance digital security, improve operational resilience, and adopt internationally recognized cybersecurity practices.
