SBP Launches Cyber Shield to Strengthen Pakistan Banking Security

SBP launches Cyber Shield strategy to enhance cyber resilience across Pakistan’s banking sector and protect customers.

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The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched “Cyber Shield – the Cyber Resilience Strategy for Regulated Entities”, a landmark initiative under its Vision 2028 agenda designed to fortify the country’s banking sector against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The strategy provides a comprehensive framework for banks and regulated financial institutions to strengthen cyber defenses, enhance governance, improve incident response, and protect customers and businesses as digital financial services grow rapidly across Pakistan.

As digital banking, online payments and branchless services expand, SBP’s Cyber Shield aims to minimize risks, promote cooperation and information sharing across the financial ecosystem, and build skilled cybersecurity talent within institutions. The strategy sets out clear priorities, including improved governance and accountability, proactive threat monitoring, resilient recovery mechanisms, and regular security updates to address evolving risks. It also emphasises collaborative information-sharing and ongoing alignment with local and global cybersecurity developments.

By institutionalising these standards, SBP seeks to safeguard financial stability and customer trust while enabling secure digital innovation in Pakistan’s banking landscape.