Development and Use of IT Applications

A 2.5 hours comprehensive workshop on Development and Use of IT Applications was delivered at NIPA Lahore by Dr. Ayesha Altaf on August 11, 2026, which offered participants of 47^th Mid-Career Management Course a grounded understanding of contemporary cyber threats and protective practices. The session highlighted cybersecurity as both a technical and human challenge which was reiterated as critical for governance, service delivery, and public trust. Dr. Altaf discussed common cyber threats such as malware, phishing, ransomware, deepfakes, data tracking, and identity theft, illustrating risks through real-world global and local case studies. Special emphasis was placed on digital footprints, privacy trade-offs in free applications, risks associated with public Wi-Fi and smart devices, and growing misuse of Al-generated content. The session also covered Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 highlighting the balance required between cybersecurity enforcement and civil liberties. Practical recommendations included strengthening cyber hygiene, capacity building, ethical hacking education, and the role of national institutions such as Pakistan's CERT. Few hands-on exercises dealing with securely handling IT Applications were also conducted to sensitize participants on cybersecurity. The session concluded with a standing ovation to esteemed speaker by faculty and participants.