Pakistani students following cybersecurity competitions and research can mark November 24 to 27, 2026, for PCC 2026 at Air University in Islamabad. The official National CERT event announcement describes the programme as a national initiative bringing students, researchers, industry professionals and cybersecurity experts together.
The National Centre for Cyber Security is organising the event in collaboration with National CERT and strategic partners. Its programme combines technical competitions with academic discussion, an industrial exhibition and specialist learning activities.
Event details
| Detail | Official announcement |
|---|---|
| Dates | November 24 to 27, 2026 |
| Venue | Air University, Islamabad |
| Participants described | Students, researchers, industry professionals and cybersecurity experts |
What the programme covers
The listed activities span practical cybersecurity, cryptography, innovation and research. The National Cyber Defense Championship is a Capture the Flag competition focused on technical and problem solving skills. The Cyber Innovation and Startup Challenge focuses on ideas and indigenous cybersecurity solutions, while the Pak-Crypt Challenge covers cryptographic knowledge and research.
The announcement also lists the International Symposium on Cybersecurity, the Cyber Security Industrial Expo and the IACR Winter School on Lightweight Cryptography. Together, these give the programme a broader scope than a single competition: students can examine which activity relates to their technical interests, while researchers and university teams can review its academic components.
What students should check next
The event announcement establishes the scheduled dates, venue and programme activities. It does not, by itself, establish a verified application deadline, participation fee or eligibility conditions for each activity. Students should check the official event and relevant activity instructions before making travel plans or assuming that registration is currently open.
University computing societies and cybersecurity groups can use the programme as a starting point for discussing relevant interests and preparation. Participation arrangements and any selection requirements should be confirmed directly with the organisers.
Source: National CERT official PCC 2026 announcement.
Source: pkcert.gov.pk