ISLAMABAD: A two-day international workshop on ‘Cybersecurity Landscape in OIC Countries: Issues and Prospects’ concluded at Comstech headquarters in the capital, highlighting the urgent need for stronger cooperation among Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member nations to combat rising cyber threats. Organised by the standing committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (Comstech) and Huawei Technologies Pakistan, the event brought together cybersecurity leaders and experts to address challenges and opportunities in securing digital landscape, a statement said. The workshop featured prominent speakers including Fazlan Abdullah of Cybersecurity Malaysia, Fakhri Jafarov of Azerbaijan’s government CERT, Askar Dyussekeyev from Kazakhstan’s KZ-CERT, Prof brahim Sogukpnar from Gebze Technical University, Turkiye, and Zareefa S. Mustafa of Nigeria’s National IT Development Agency. Speaking at the inaugural session, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman retired Maj Gen Hafeezur Rehman stressed the importance of collaborative cybersecurity strategies at both national and international levels. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to creating a secure digital future through enhanced global cooperation. Coordinator General of Comstech Prof M. Iqbal Choudhary proposed holding an OIC Ministerial Conference on cybersecurity to foster experience sharing and develop robust cyber defences. Announcing future initiatives, he revealed plans for two global cybersecurity forums in Central Asia and Africa, in partnership with Huawei and OIC-CERT, aimed at capacity building and knowledge exchange. Sun Xiaofei, CEO of Huawei Technologies Pakistan, emphasised the pivotal role of technology companies in fortifying digital resilience. “At Huawei, cybersecurity remains a top priority. We are committed to supporting OIC countries in establishing frameworks and policies to tackle cyber challenges using our cutting-edge technology and global expertise,” he stated. The workshop covered critical topics such as ‘5G Security and Privacy Protection’, ‘Securing Corporate Networks for SMEs’, and the role of cybersecurity in digital transformation. Speakers shared national initiatives from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Nigeria and Turkey, offering insights into workforce development and policies to combat evolving cyber threats. With over 300 participants attending both physically and virtually, the workshop marked a significant step towards greater collaboration among OIC nations to secure their digital economies. The event underscored the need for unified efforts in tackling cybersecurity challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.