COUNTERING CYBER THREATS IN PAKISTAN: A POLITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY POLICY (2021) AND WHOLE-OF-SOCIETY IMPERATIVE

Abstract

Pakistan, with its complex geopolitical environment, faces an evolving threat landscape, where cyber threats have emerged as a critical component. State and state-sponsored cyber attacks, terrorist organizations, and other malicious actors leverage cyber space to achieve strategic, political and social objectives. The existing cyber security policy landscape and infrastructure face critical gaps, including weak inter-agency coordination, limited resources, outdated legal structure, and a lack of technical capacity to ensure a secure cyber space. This study examines the National Cyber Security Policy of Pakistan (2021) through the analytical lens of political security and policy analysis, with particular attention to the Whole-of-Society approach as a normative and strategic imperative. Drawing on policy analysis, this study considers the Policy Cycle Model to assess the degree to which NCSP incorporates threat perception, multi-actor participation, institutional coordination, and resource and capacity deficits. This study finds that while the NCSP articulates a high-level vision for cyber security, the operationalization of inclusive governance and societal engagement remains a major obstacle in achieving a secure cyberspace. By framing cyber resilience as political governance rather than solely a technical or security issue, this research paper advances a policy perspective on cyber threats. This study concludes that cyber resilience can be enhanced through governance-centred policy recommendations that emphasize transparency, inter-agency collaboration, and the mobilization of civic and private stakeholders.