Pakistan is facing growing digital security challenges, with fake videos, fraudulent phone calls and scam messages posing risks to citizens, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General Hafeez Ur Rehman said on Thursday.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of Cybersecurity Awareness Week, he said cyberattacks were occurring around the clock and warned that the telecommunications industry was also exposed to such threats.

He said people across Pakistan received suspicious calls and messages, including requests involving one-time passwords (OTPs). Citizens should avoid sharing sensitive information and refrain from forwarding unverified messages, he added.

The chairman said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was working to address these issues. He also noted that institutions such as the PTA, NADRA and PEMRA had taken steps to secure their systems against cyberattacks.

Ur Rehman stressed that public awareness and stronger policies were necessary to improve Pakistan’s digital security.

He said protecting the country’s digital infrastructure required continued efforts as cyber threats affected individuals, businesses and public institutions.