The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has urged television news channels across Pakistan to strengthen their cybersecurity measures amid efforts to protect the country’s broadcast infrastructure from rising cyber threats following a series of high-profile attacks earlier this year.

The call was made at a meeting held at the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) headquarters in Islamabad, where representatives from television news channels and technical teams responsible for broadcast operations and websites reviewed cybersecurity preparedness and risk-mitigation measures.

Officials from NCERT and PEMRA briefed participants on cybersecurity protocols, best practices and strategies to safeguard broadcast systems and digital platforms against potential attacks. The meeting also focused on improving coordination between regulators, cybersecurity experts and media organisations to strengthen the sector’s cyber resilience.

According to sources, the government set up a dedicated committee after coordinated cyberattacks targeted several major television channels and their websites in March 2026. The committee is tasked with monitoring the implementation of cybersecurity standards across media organisations and ensuring the adoption of stronger security measures.

Participants also discussed updated security practices, early detection mechanisms for cyber threats and faster response procedures to limit the impact of future incidents.

The latest meeting follows the March attacks that targeted major Pakistani news organisations, including Geo News, Samaa TV and ARY News. During those incidents, hackers reportedly hijacked live broadcasts and defaced news websites with pro-Israel and Mossad-related messages, prompting investigations by the Pakistan Computer Emergency Response Team.