CNETS · Proven in Australia, serving Pakistan
Pakistan Regulatory Compliance
Pakistan Regulatory Compliance
Pakistani regulators now set explicit cyber security expectations: the State Bank of Pakistan for banks, EMIs and payment providers, SECP for listed companies and the corporate sector, and PTA for telecom and internet service providers, alongside PECA 2016 obligations and PCI DSS for anyone handling card data. CNETS maps these mandates to a single, structured compliance program aligned with ISO 27001.
The business case
Why invest in SBP · SECP · PTA?
Each Pakistani regulator speaks in its own circulars and directives. SBP's cyber security framework and Circular 05 of 2017 set governance, defence and incident-reporting expectations for financial institutions. SECP's IT governance circulars extend similar duties to the corporate sector, and PTA's Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations (CTDISR) cover licensees carrying the country's communications traffic.
Meeting each mandate separately multiplies effort. CNETS builds one control set, mapped to every applicable regulation and to ISO 27001, so a single evidence trail answers the regulator, your customers and your auditors.
Built for your organisation
Banks, fintechs, EMIs, listed companies, telecom operators and IT exporters facing Pakistani regulatory mandates.
- Map regulatory circulars to controls
- Close gaps against SBP, SECP and PTA requirements
- Prepare regulator-ready evidence
- Align local mandates with ISO 27001
Scope & requirements
What does SBP · SECP · PTA cover?
Scope comes first. The work should reflect your operations, risks and assurance requirements.
SBP Cyber Security Framework
Gap assessment and remediation against SBP requirements for banks, EMIs, payment system operators and payment service providers, including governance, cyber defence, incident reporting and resilience expectations.
SECP IT governance
Translate SECP circulars on information technology and cyber security into accountable controls, board reporting and documented evidence for listed companies and regulated entities.
PTA CTDISR
Assess telecom and internet service providers against the Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations, including data classification, localisation and security controls.
PECA 2016 obligations
Align incident handling, log preservation and evidence chain-of-custody with the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 and its amendments.
PCI DSS v4.0.1
Scope, assess and remediate cardholder data environments for fintechs, payment gateways, EMIs and merchants, from segmentation to the assessment itself.
Practical outputs
What we work on with you
The proposal confirms the deliverables and responsibilities for your engagement.
- Regulatory applicability assessment across SBP, SECP, PTA, PECA and PCI DSS
- Requirements-to-control gap assessment with a single mapped control set
- Prioritised remediation plan with accountable owners
- Regulator-ready evidence pack and reporting templates
- Incident reporting and response procedures aligned to regulator timelines
- Alignment roadmap with ISO 27001 certification where required
Before we begin
What helps us scope the work
You do not need everything ready to start a conversation. Existing material helps us avoid duplicating work.
- Which regulators and circulars apply to your licence or listing
- Existing security policies, controls and previous assessments
- Systems, data flows and payment channels in scope
- Incident records, audit findings and regulator correspondence
Choose with clarity
Regulatory compliance or ISO 27001? You likely need both
- Driver
- Pakistani regulatory mandates
Required by your regulator: SBP, SECP or PTA, depending on your sector.
- ISO 27001
Requested by international customers, tenders and partners.
- Approach
- Pakistani regulatory mandates
Prescriptive circulars and directives with defined expectations.
- ISO 27001
A risk-based Information Security Management System you scope yourself.
- Together
- Pakistani regulatory mandates
Mapped into the ISMS so one control set satisfies the regulator.
- ISO 27001
Provides the management system that keeps regulatory controls operating.
From assessment to action
How CNETS approaches SBP · SECP · PTA
- 01
Map obligations
Identify every regulation, circular and directive that applies to your organisation.
- 02
Assess gaps
Compare current controls against each requirement and rate the exposure.
- 03
Remediate
Close priority gaps with practical controls, owners and deadlines.
- 04
Evidence
Build the documentation and records regulators and auditors expect.
- 05
Sustain
Track regulatory change and keep the control set current.
Keep the work effective after delivery
Pakistani cyber regulation is moving quickly: SBP, SECP and PTA continue to issue new circulars and amendments, and the MoITT Personal Data Protection Bill is progressing. We track these changes and fold them into your compliance program so you are not caught out at the next examination.
Our proprietary platform
Checkmate
Connect the work. Keep the evidence.
Checkmate's Pakistan readiness packs turn these mandates into 28 concrete, source-linked readiness actions across SBP, SECP, PTA and PCI DSS. Each action has an owner, evidence and status, so regulator readiness is visible every day rather than assembled before an examination.
Checkmate.
One connected view. From implementation to your next audit.
Policies & evidence
A single source of truth.
People & ownership
Clear responsibilities.
Risks & controls
A connected management system.
Straight answers
SBP · SECP · PTA: your questions answered
- Which Pakistani regulations apply to us?
It depends on your sector and licences. Banks, EMIs and payment providers answer to the State Bank of Pakistan; listed companies and much of the corporate sector to SECP; telecom and internet service providers to PTA. PECA 2016 applies broadly, and PCI DSS applies wherever card data is stored, processed or transmitted. An applicability assessment confirms your exact obligations.
- What is the SBP Cyber Security Framework?
It is the State Bank of Pakistan's set of cyber security expectations for regulated financial institutions, covering governance, cyber defence capabilities, incident reporting and resilience, introduced through circulars including BPRD Circular 05 of 2017 and subsequent directives.
- Does ISO 27001 certification satisfy SBP or SECP requirements?
Not by itself. The overlap is substantial, but regulators set their own specific expectations and reporting duties. CNETS maps regulatory requirements into your ISMS so one program covers both, with the differences explicitly addressed.
- We are an IT exporter with overseas clients. What applies to us?
Export clients typically ask for ISO 27001 or SOC 2, while Pakistani obligations such as PECA 2016 still apply to your operations. If you handle payments or regulated data, PCI DSS or sector rules may also apply.
- What is CTDISR?
The Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations are PTA's security requirements for telecom licensees, covering the classification and protection of critical telecom data and infrastructure, including localisation and control expectations.
- What will a compliance program cost?
Cost depends on how many regimes apply, your current control maturity and the systems in scope. A gap assessment defines the work before a realistic proposal is agreed; regulatory examination and certification fees are separate.
Connected expertise
ISO 27001
Protect sensitive information with a risk-based security management system.
VAPT
Assess exploitable weaknesses in applications, APIs, networks and cloud.
Awareness Training
Turn your workforce into a human firewall with continuous training and phishing simulations.
Standards & further reading
General guidance, not legal advice. Requirements depend on your scope and the applicable standard edition. Confirm certification and assessment arrangements for your organisation.
Next step
Your next step starts
with a conversation.
Tell us where you want to go. We’ll help you understand what it takes to get there.