ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq on Sunday expressed the hope that Islamabad and Riyadh would forge “stronger ties” in the field of cybersecurity, days after the third Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) event concluded in Saudi Arabia.
Several Pakistani companies and experts participated in the GCF event on Nov. 1 and 2 held in Riyadh under the theme “Charting Shared Priorities in Cyberspace.” Over 150 speakers from 120 countries took part in the global cybersecurity event.
Hosted by the National Cybersecurity Authority and the Saudi Information Technology Co., the forum facilitated discussions on cybersecurity strategies, international issues, and cooperation. The event featured 35 sessions attended by CEOs and senior officials from various sectors and organizations around the world.
“I am happy to see that Pakistani thought leaders and cybersecurity professionals also participated in the event,” Farooq told Arab News. “I hope that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will foster stronger ties in the area of cybersecurity.”
The picture shared on November 1, 2023, shows panelists participating in the “Ready for Goodbyes? Critical System Obsolescence” session during the third Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (@gcfriyadh/X)
Farooq said the event emerged as an important platform that brought together international experts and decision-makers that helped spark debates and hold conversations on major issues faced by the world in cybersecurity.
“Cybersecurity in itself is a vast subject and in the rapidly digitizing world, it is crucial to understand the subject, the cyber threats and associated risks, and develop informed strategies accordingly,” the Pakistani envoy said.
He said collective action in this regard was the way forward.
Naseer Ahmad Akhtar, founder and chairman of the Lahore-based InfoTech Group— a System Integrator and Software company— also took part in the forum. Akhtar said the event featured insightful policy-level discussions that highlighted the importance of global cooperation in addressing cybersecurity challenges.
“It was a great event where I have also given my suggestions to the organizers to make it more effective in the future as cybersecurity is a challenging field,” Akhtar told Arab News.
Akhtar said that although the forum stressed the importance of collective action, it needed to chalk out an effective strategy to implement it as well.
“Cybersecurity is in many ways connected with national security, so there is a need to chalk out a clear strategy to ensure collective efforts,” he added.
Adeel Fayyaz, a business development director at the Lahore-based Kualitatem— an independent software testing company— said the forum offered valuable insights into global cybersecurity issues and solutions.
Fayyaz said it also provided an excellent opportunity for him to build a network with global industry leaders.
“This is relevant to our business because we offer information security services,” he told Arab News. “Specifically, it helps us understand the industry, the direction it’s heading in, and its specific requirements,” Fayyaz said.
He said participants gained insight into new technological advancements by discussing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, information security and cyber defense.
Fayyaz said their presence at such an exclusive and prestigious forum allowed Pakistani companies to establish valuable connections with decision-makers in the Saudi market.
“Secondly, from a Pakistani company’s standpoint, our participation is vital as people need to recognize Pakistan’s significant role in the global cybersecurity community,” he said.
