Pakistan CERT Bans Over 15 Israeli Technology Companies Over Security Concerns

The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Pakistan has taken action against more than 15 technology companies linked to Israel, citing security concerns and risks to national infrastructure. During a Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom meeting, officials emphasized that many foreign technology solutions, particularly from Israeli firms, have been deployed across critical installations, including government buildings and diplomatic enclaves.

The Director General of CERT stated that 99 percent of the IT infrastructure in Pakistan relies on foreign technology, making it vulnerable to external threats. This reliance has raised alarms among lawmakers, who have highlighted the potential for surveillance and data exploitation. Senators expressed serious concerns over unnecessary surveillance cameras installed at sensitive locations such as the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

Senator Afnan Ullah remarked that these devices are increasingly becoming security risks, while Senator Palwasha Khan noted that officials often ignore warnings when such technology is misused. Senator Talha Mehmood revealed that as far back as 2009, some companies had access to monitor activities inside the Prime Minister House, and signals from their equipment were detected extending beyond diplomatic enclaves.

The CERT official confirmed that action has already been taken, resulting in the closure of over 15 Israeli-linked technology companies operating in Pakistan, with further measures underway to secure the IT infrastructure in the country. The use of foreign surveillance software has long sparked debate in Pakistan, as critics warn that imported technology can expose sensitive government operations to external influence or exploitation.

Experts have repeatedly cautioned that linking critical infrastructure to overseas software providers, particularly those with intelligence affiliations, may compromise national security and raise questions about accountability and oversight. Earlier this month, it was reported that an Islamabad Traffic Police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that BriefCam software operated in Islamabad’s Safe City system from June 2021 to October 2022.

However, it was later replaced by the Extreme C platform featuring full facial recognition, while Safe City cameras now use Huawei hardware and connect with NADRA databases. This shift underscores growing concerns about the security and sovereignty of domestic IT systems in the face of foreign technological influence.

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