Cyber security top priority of govt: Minister Sharma

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma asserted that cyber security was one of the top priorities of the incumbent government.

Minister Sharma said so today while inaugurating the national conference related to cybercrime, cyber security and cyber policy and public awareness jointly organized by Rapti Engineering College, Pyuthan Technical College and Silicon Research Centre, Pyuthan, in Pyuthan district.

Stating that the National Cyber Security Policy-2080 BS was issued to make cyber space safe, Minister Sharma, also the Spokesperson of the government, shared that works on draft of the bills related to cyber security had been initiated on the basis of that policy.

According to her, formulation of cyber security related laws were figured in the top priorities of the incumbent government considering the ever-evolving sector of information, communication and technology.

Emphasizing on the need of spreading awareness about cyber security, the Minister appraised that the National Cyber Security Centre would be set up soon in the country. Since the teenagers especially high school students are at high risk of cybercrime, the Minister viewed that awareness drive on cyber security be focused on this target group.

She informed that the government has launched a short-term training programme in IT sector for high schools graduates.

The fact that Nepal earned Rs 68 billion of foreign currency by exporting IT services in the last fiscal year which has further enthused the government to devise policy and programmes related to it, she said.

The government, according to Minister Sharma, has been organizing digital campaign and IT exhibitions, so as to assist in conducting research and studies into the IT companies and the human resources in this sector active in Nepal.

On the occasion, Director General at the Department of Information Technology Prem Sharan Shreshta, Nepal Television's Chintamadi Baral, Rapti Engineering College's President Dr Shailendra Giri and Nepal Telecoms Ashish Gyawali had presented working papers.

The conference was presided by Dr Bhimsen Giri, Managing Director of the Rapti Engineering College.

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