KP govt to establish cyber security institute

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to establish an international standard cyber security institute in the provincial capital aimed at ensuring the availability of cyber security education facilities to the youth.

The decision was taken at a meeting held here on Tuesday with the Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair.Provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, administrative secretaries of Higher Education and Science Technology and Information Technology departments, managing director Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board and Director National Centre for cyber security attended the meeting, said a handout.

It was decided in the meeting that a newly- conceived cyber security institute would be established in an already available government building offering bachelor, masters and PhD degree programmes in cyber security.The chief minister, on the occasion, directed the high ups of Higher Education and ST&IT departments to finalise the modalities regarding cyber security institute and submit viable proposals for formal approval as early as possible.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the establishment of a specialised cyber security institute in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the need of the day. He added that the incumbent provincial government would ensure provision of all required resources for the institute on priority. He added that it was high time to invest in the information technology sector and benefit from its substantial potential.

The government would extend such cyber security institutes to divisional headquarters in the future as well, he added.Ali Amin Gandapur said that the provincial government was committed to imparting modern information technology education and training to youth and to provide them opportunities for employment at national and international level.