Dr. Haider Abbas, TI, Director General of National CERT Pakistan, has been nominated as a member of the Digital Assurance and Accounting Board (DAAB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) for the 2026–2028 term. His appointment brings cybersecurity and digital resilience expertise to a professional board focused on the impact of emerging technologies and digital developments on accounting, auditing, assurance and related professional practices. The nomination also creates a connection between Pakistan’s cybersecurity community and the country’s accounting and professional services sector.
The Digital Assurance and Accounting Board brings together multidisciplinary expertise to examine developments in digital technologies, cybersecurity, data security, emerging technologies and regulatory developments that are increasingly affecting accounting and assurance practices. As organizations continue to digitize their financial and operational processes, issues such as data protection, cyber risks, technology governance and digital assurance have become increasingly relevant to accounting and audit professionals. The board provides a platform for examining these developments and their implications for professional practices.
Dr. Abbas’s participation is expected to bring a national cybersecurity and digital resilience perspective to the board’s work. His involvement can contribute to discussions around cybersecurity considerations affecting digital assurance, accounting and professional services, while also supporting interaction between technology and cybersecurity specialists and professionals from accounting and assurance fields. The collaboration reflects the increasing overlap between cybersecurity, data security and financial reporting as organizations rely more heavily on digital systems and technology-enabled processes.
The nomination also highlights the role of cross-sector collaboration in addressing cybersecurity and digital trust issues. National CERT Pakistan has been involved in cybersecurity and cyber resilience efforts, while ICAP represents the accounting and professional services community. Bringing expertise from these areas together through the DAAB can support dialogue between cybersecurity, technology, regulatory, academic and professional stakeholders. Such collaboration is increasingly relevant as businesses and institutions face evolving cyber threats alongside greater reliance on digital infrastructure and data-driven systems.
Dr. Haider Abbas’s appointment to the DAAB for the 2026–2028 term adds cybersecurity expertise to the board as it examines the impact of digital transformation and emerging technologies on accounting, audit and assurance. The engagement is also aligned with National CERT Pakistan’s focus on cybersecurity governance, digital trust and cyber resilience. The development reflects the growing connection between cybersecurity and professional assurance practices, with digital security becoming an increasingly important consideration for organizations operating across Pakistan’s evolving technology ecosystem.
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