32 Ministries At Risk As Crucial Firewall and Switches Licenses To Expires

The licenses for firewalls and switches, crucial components ensuring cyber threat protection and uninterrupted services for 32 ministries/divisions, are set to expire on January 23, posing a considerable risk.

This expiration leaves these entities susceptible to cyber threats and the potential disruption of essential services.

To address this issue, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has submitted a proposal to the Cabinet, seeking relaxation from the Pakistan Public Regularity Authority (PPRA) for the renewal of firewall and switches licenses, emphasizing their critical role in cybersecurity and service continuity.

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The equipment, procured with a three-year subscription, support, and maintenance plan, is due for renewal on January 23.

The National IT Board (NITB) has already urged concerned offices to renew services promptly, aligning with the National Telecommunication and Information Security Board’s recommendations. While 12 divisions have responded, most have cited budget constraints, requesting NITB to proceed with procurement.

Recognizing the urgency, the PPRA has advised against direct procurement, recommending open competitive bidding under Rules 20 and 21 of the Public Procurement Rules 2004. Deliberations within the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication highlight the challenges of individual tenders from the 32 ministries/divisions.

In light of this, the proposal suggests the following considerations for the Federal Cabinet:

1. NITB issuance of a centralized Request for Proposal (RFP) for license renewal.
2. Inclusion in the RFP for vendors to accept Purchase Orders from individual Ministries/Divisions.
3. Formation of a Special One-Time Procurement Committee by MoITT, with representation from Cabinet and Finance Divisions, to finalize vendors.
4. NITB authorization to sign the Agreement on behalf of all Ministries/Divisions.
5. Ministries/Divisions permitted to issue Purchase Orders for renewals through their budgets.

The estimated total cost for the three-year renewal of licenses, maintenance, and support for firewalls, switches, and passive network equipment for the 32 Divisions is approximately Rs. 230 million. Ministries/Divisions are urged to secure funds ranging from Rs. 7 to 8 million each through their resources by January 15, as directed by the Federal Cabinet. In cases of insufficient funds, the Finance Division is expected to provide necessary funding for the timely completion of the process.