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By Tanveer Ahmed :
Pakistan has ordered federal and government-run websites to operate in a restricted “read-only” mode following warnings of heightened cyber threats and possible digital attacks targeting state institutions.
The directive was issued by the National Cyber Emergency Response Team as officials moved to strengthen protection of government digital infrastructure amid increasing regional tensions and concerns over hacktivist activity.
Authorities said the emergency advisory was designed to reduce the risk of cyber intrusions, website defacement and misinformation campaigns that could compromise official platforms or disrupt online public services.
Under the temporary measures, government departments have been instructed to disable interactive features on websites and tighten security controls to minimise vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.
Cybersecurity officials warned that attackers may attempt to alter website content to spread propaganda or fake information, a tactic commonly known as website defacement.
The advisory noted that online features such as contact forms, search tools and login systems could be targeted through SQL injection attacks, potentially allowing unauthorised access to databases and sensitive citizen information.
Officials also expressed concern over the misuse of file upload systems, which could enable attackers to install malicious web shells capable of maintaining hidden access to compromised servers for long periods.
The CERT further highlighted the threat of Denial-of-Service attack incidents, where websites and digital systems are overwhelmed with excessive traffic in an attempt to make government services inaccessible.
According to the advisory, outdated plugins, unsupported themes and weaknesses in content management systems may also provide entry points for hackers attempting brute-force attacks to gain administrative control of websites.
The cybersecurity agency warned that threats could come from both ideologically motivated hacktivist groups and state-sponsored advanced persistent threat organisations seeking long-term infiltration of government networks.
Potential targets identified by officials include federal and provincial government portals, citizen service websites and databases containing confidential state or public information.
To strengthen defences, the National CERT recommended a range of immediate technical measures.
Government entities were instructed to block all website modification requests, disable forms and authentication portals, and remove unnecessary database write permissions in order to limit exposure to attacks.
The advisory also called for the use of Content Delivery Network technology to manage sudden surges in traffic and reduce the risk of service disruption during large-scale cyberattacks.
In addition, departments were advised to implement file integrity monitoring systems capable of detecting unauthorised changes to websites and digital infrastructure.
Officials were also told to enforce strict IP-based access restrictions so that backend systems remain accessible only to authorised personnel.
As part of contingency planning, departments have been instructed to maintain offline backups and static versions of websites to ensure rapid restoration in the event of a breach or service disruption.
The National CERT also directed IT teams to actively monitor website activity logs for suspicious behaviour and ensure that all interactive features remain disabled until further notice.
Pakistan has increased its focus on cybersecurity in recent years as government operations, financial services and public infrastructure become increasingly dependent on digital systems.
Experts say cyberattacks on government institutions often rise during periods of geopolitical tension, with hackers frequently targeting official websites because of their symbolic importance and their role in delivering essential public services.
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