The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched its first-ever “Bug Bounty Challenge 2026,” offering attractive prizes to top-performing teams in a nationwide cybersecurity competition.
The initiative aims to strengthen Pakistan’s digital identity infrastructure and promote ethical hacking and responsible vulnerability reporting.
The competition has been launched in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the National Cyber Emergency Response Team.
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Officials say the programme is designed to improve cybersecurity standards while encouraging young talent to contribute to the protection of national digital systems.
According to NADRA, the Bug Bounty Challenge 2026 is a team-based competition focused on advanced cybersecurity assessment and responsible identification of vulnerabilities.
The initiative seeks to nurture emerging cybersecurity professionals, promote ethical security practices, and enhance public trust in Pakistan’s digital identity ecosystem.
Students, ethical hackers, and cybersecurity experts from selected universities and NADRA partner institutions will participate in the challenge.
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The competition will bring together technical talent from across the country to test their skills in identifying and analysing security weaknesses in a controlled and lawful environment.
Regional rounds of the competition will begin on January 27, 2026, at major universities, including GIKI Swabi, NUST Islamabad, UET Lahore, NED University Karachi, and BUITEMS Quetta.
These rounds will help identify top-performing teams that will advance to the final stage of the competition.
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The final ceremony will be held at NADRA Headquarters in Islamabad, with the exact date to be announced later. Winners will receive prizes and recognition for their contributions to cybersecurity and digital innovation.
NADRA clarified that the competition is not open to the general public.
Participation is limited to selected universities and partner organisations, and only team-based entries are allowed. The authority explained that the controlled format ensures security, professionalism, and adherence to ethical standards.
