PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has decided to establish an international standard cybersecurity institute in the provincial capital with the aim to ensure availability of cybersecurity education facilities to the youth of the province.

The decision was made at a meeting held here on Tuesday with Mr Gandapur in the chair, according to a statement.

Minister for higher education Meena Khan Afridi, administrative secretaries of higher education and science technology & information technology departments, managing director Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board and director National Centre for Cybersecurity attended the meeting.

It was decided that the cybersecurity institute would be established in an already available government building, offering bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degree programmes in cybersecurity.

The chief minister directed the high-ups of higher education and ST&IT departments to finalise the modalities regarding the institute and submit viable proposals for formal approval as early as possible.

Mr Gandapur said establishment of a specialised cybersecurity institute in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the need of the day, adding his government would ensure provision of all required resources for the institute on priority. He said it was high time to invest in the information technology sector and benefit from its substantial potential.

He remarked the government would extend such cybersecurity institutes to divisional headquarters in future.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2024