To combat false propaganda on social media and enhance cyber security, the Government of Pakistan is set to implement advanced firewalls across internet service providers. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has opened a tender for next-generation firewalls and web application firewalls (WAFs) to be installed over the next five years.

The next-generation firewalls, referred to as Lot A, will be sourced from China to ensure high security and reliability. These firewalls will include features such as advanced threat prevention, URL filtering, application control, and malware protection, designed to prevent the spread of false political content and safeguard state institutions.

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The specifications for Lot A firewalls include advanced sandboxing, DNS security, and VPN services, with a hardware warranty ensuring prompt technical support and minimal downtime. Alongside, web application firewalls (Lot B) will be installed to monitor and filter HTTP traffic, offering additional protection with advanced load-balancing and a five-year warranty.

The advanced firewalls will offer capabilities like deep packet inspection, intrusion prevention systems, and application awareness. They are designed to block anti-state content in real-time, provide detailed network traffic visibility, and integrate with threat intelligence for proactive defense.

Web application firewalls will further enhance security by defending against threats such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting. They will also offer detailed analytics and reporting to help identify attack patterns and bolster overall web application security.

The PTA has issued a call for bids through the EPADS System, with the deadline for submissions on July 26. The cost of the firewalls will be shared between the government and internet service providers, though PTA representatives did not provide additional details upon inquiry.