KATHMANDU, APRIL 12
The Information and Communication Technology Specialized Research Center under the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Karnali Province Office, organized a two-day cybersecurity workshop on April 9–10, aimed at strengthening institutional cyber resilience and enhancing digital capacity.
The workshop, titled "Building Cyber-Ready Organizations: Strategy, Tools, and Hands-On Insights," brought together more than 35 participants from over 20 government agencies across Karnali Province, along with representatives from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the National Investigation Department.
The programme focused on raising cybersecurity awareness and bridging the digital divide, with an emphasis on improving digital literacy and strengthening institutional preparedness against evolving cyber threats.
Organisers said the initiative aimed to assess the current cybersecurity posture of participating institutions and promote the practical application of technical knowledge within their respective organizations.
During the opening session, Dr. Niroj Pandey, Chairperson of the Management Council of the NAST Information and Communication Technology Specialized Research Center, Karnali Province, delivered the inaugural address.
Dr. Bimala Devkota, Chief Scientific Officer at NAST and member of the Management Council, highlighted the institution's ongoing activities and initiatives.
Similarly, Pradeep Dhodari, Chief of Information Technology at NAST, underscored the importance and relevance of the workshop in the context of growing cyber threats and ongoing digital transformation.
The technical sessions were conducted by Prof. Dr. Subarna Shakya, academician at NAST; cybersecurity expert Engineer Kumar Pudasaini; and IT Chief Pradeep Dhodari.
Organisers stated that the workshop served as a platform for participants to assess the real-time cybersecurity status of their respective organizations and develop strategies to safeguard systems against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
This was the first such training programme in the province to bring together major government bodies, universities, and security agencies under a single platform. Officials noted that similar comprehensive cybersecurity training initiatives are rare in other provinces as well.
