The Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) hosted a two-day international workshop on the “Cyber Security Landscape in OIC Countries: Issues and Prospects” at its headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan. The workshop, which began on Tuesday, focused on addressing the critical challenges and opportunities in the realm of cyber security across the OIC member countries.

The event attracted a distinguished lineup of cyber security experts from various OIC nations, including Fakhri Jafarov, Head of the Malware Research Laboratory, Azerbaijan Government CERT. The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov was also present during the inaugural session of the workshop.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Major General (Rtd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman emphasized the importance of joint cyber security initiatives at the national and international levels.

In his address, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, proposed organizing an OIC Ministerial Conference on Cyber Security to establish an experience-sharing platform for building robust cyber defense systems across OIC countries. Highlighting COMSTECH's ongoing and future initiatives, he also announced plans to hold two global cyber security forums in Central Asia and Africa in collaboration with Huawei and OIC-CERT. These forums will focus on capacity building and fostering international linkages.

Other notable sessions included presentations on cyber security initiatives by OIC member states, such as the efforts of OIC-CERT to protect the OIC member states and contributions from Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Turkiye in shaping their national cyber security landscapes.

Experts also explored strategies to combat modern cyber threats, strengthen national cyber security policies, and enhance workforce development through training programs and certifications to address the growing cyber security skills gap.

Over 300 participants from a diverse range of countries are attending the workshop, which is expected to generate valuable outcomes and deeper collaboration in advancing cyber security efforts across OIC nations. The workshop marks a significant milestone towards securing a safer digital future for OIC member countries as they unite to address the ever-evolving challenges of cyber security in a rapidly digitalizing world.