The Ministry of Economic Affairs of Pakistan confirmed on Friday that it has successfully regained control of its official X (formerly Twitter) account, which was hacked overnight by unknown hostile actors. The ministry emphasized that the breach was a deliberate attempt to sow discord and tarnish Pakistan’s global reputation, especially amid heightened tensions with India.
According to a statement from the ministry’s spokesperson, the compromised account was used to post controversial and inflammatory content relating to the current Pakistan-India situation. The spokesperson clarified that the post had no affiliation with the ministry or the government and was clearly designed to mislead the international community.
The statement condemned the hacking as a hostile cyberattack, asserting that it was part of a broader effort to discredit Pakistan on the international stage. The content posted during the breach reportedly aimed to exploit the current geopolitical climate and portray Pakistan in a negative light to global audiences, including international financial and diplomatic institutions.
“The enemy hacked the account and posted inappropriate content concerning Pakistan-India tensions,” the spokesperson said, describing the act as a calculated move to spread disinformation and fuel mistrust. The post, which was quickly removed after the breach was detected, was labeled by the ministry as fake and misrepresentative of Pakistan’s official stance.
To prevent any further misuse or compromise, the Economic Affairs Ministry has temporarily deactivated its X account as a security measure. Officials stated that this pause will allow cybersecurity teams to fully assess the breach and implement stronger safeguards to protect against future attacks.
The ministry praised the swift response and cooperation between its internal IT team and Pakistan’s broader cyber defense institutions. Working in coordination with government cybersecurity agencies, the ministry was able to identify the breach, remove the offending content, and begin forensic investigations within hours.
Through joint efforts, the conspiracy to defame Pakistan was effectively foiled,” said the spokesperson. Our institutions acted swiftly and responsibly to prevent this disinformation campaign from gaining traction.
Officials stressed that the ministry’s digital platforms play a vital role in sharing economic policy updates, international development partnerships, and financial reforms with the public and stakeholders. As such, maintaining the credibility and security of these platforms is a top priority for the government.
The incident has triggered a review of digital security protocols across several government departments, with new recommendations expected to follow soon. This is not the first time Pakistani government entities have been targeted in cyberattacks, especially during periods of geopolitical strain.
The ministry also issued a warning to the public and media to verify any future content from its social media accounts, noting that only authenticated posts from verified handles should be considered official communication. It encouraged citizens to report any suspicious or misleading content they encounter online.
This hacking episode comes at a sensitive time when Pakistan is already dealing with escalated cross-border tensions. The government remains on high alert not only on the military front but also in the digital sphere, where cyber warfare and disinformation campaigns have become increasingly prevalent tools for destabilization.
In the wake of this breach, calls have grown louder within government circles for a stronger national cybersecurity policy and enhanced digital resilience across public-sector institutions. With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated and frequent, Pakistani officials are emphasizing the need for proactive strategies to protect national interests in both physical and digital domains.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has reassured its stakeholders, including international donors and financial institutions, that operations remain unaffected and all official communications will be resumed securely once the account is reactivated.
