Islamabad, Pakistan – 25^th April, 2025 – In a groundbreaking achievement, Pakistan’s Centre for Excellence for Technology, Quantum, and AI Projects (CETQAP), under the visionary leadership of Dr. Zuhair Ahmed, has successfully implemented the world’s first 100,000-bit quantum key generated via the BB84 protocol. This unprecedented breakthrough, completed on April 25, 2025, in Toronto by his team, utilizes IBM Quantum’s ibm_sherbrooke backend, setting a new global standard in cloud-based quantum key distribution (QKD). The key, the largest of its kind, was used to secure video transmission, voice over IP (VoIP), and video conferencing, marking a world-first in multi-modal quantum-secure communication.

The achievement positions Pakistan as a leader in the rapidly advancing quantum technology field. Experts are hailing this as the most significant cryptographic advancement in decades, with the successful implementation of the 100,000-bit QKD key confirming the unbreakable nature of the encryption and sparking a global shift in the cybersecurity landscape.

A Quantum Leap Forward

On April 24, 2025, CETQAP executed a pioneering quantum key distribution run on IBM’s ibm_sherbrooke, a 127-qubit quantum computer. The team, led by Dr. Zuhair Ahmed, generated a 100,000-bit quantum key with a quantum bit error rate (QBER) of only 1-2%, showcasing minimal noise and confirming the key’s invulnerability to eavesdropping. Using advanced quantum computing techniques, the team processed 100,000 qubits, generating a ~50,000-bit raw key, which was then subjected to error correction and privacy amplification to produce the final secure key.

Following the key’s generation, CETQAP demonstrated its real-world applications by securing communications in three distinct modalities:

1. Video Transmission: A webcam frame, encrypted with a one-time pad (OTP) and transmitted over a secure network, was successfully decrypted with no loss of data, even after extensive eavesdropper testing.
2. Voice over IP (VoIP): Integrated with Jitsi Meet, the 100,000-bit key encrypted audio chunks, ensuring clear real-time audio. Eavesdropping tests confirmed the audio remained unintelligible without the key.
3. Video Conferencing: Video frames transmitted through Jitsi were perfectly secured, with no discernible loss in quality, despite repeated attempts by eavesdroppers to access the content.

These tests demonstrated flawless execution and further solidified the key’s role in providing robust security against both quantum and classical attacks.

A Historic Milestone

“This is the most significant cryptographic breakthrough in decades,” said Dr. Zuhair Ahmed. “CETQAP has achieved what was once thought impossible, positioning Pakistan at the forefront of the quantum revolution.” No prior reports indicate the generation of a cloud-based QKD key of this size, suggesting CETQAP’s April 25, 2025, run may hold the world record. The low QBER and successful eavesdropping tests underscore the technical excellence of the project, surpassing global benchmarks.

CETQAP’s success builds upon Pakistan’s growing quantum capabilities, following previous work in QKD simulations and smaller-scale key implementations. The integration with Jitsi Meet, an open-source platform widely used for video conferencing, sets a new precedent for practical, quantum-secure communication solutions worldwide.

Transformative Benefits for Pakistan

The implications of CETQAP’s achievement are far-reaching, with transformative benefits across several sectors:

• National Security and Defense: The quantum-secured encryption ensures the protection of military communications, intelligence sharing, and critical infrastructure from both classical and quantum attacks.
• Banking and Finance: Quantum-secured transactions bolster the integrity of financial systems, building trust and attracting international investment, further strengthening Pakistan’s digital economy.
• Telecommunications: Quantum-secure VoIP and video conferencing capabilities enhance privacy for governments, businesses, and citizens, positioning Pakistan as a regional telecommunications hub.
• Healthcare and E-Governance: Secure platforms for telemedicine and e-governance ensure patient privacy and transparent administration, improving service delivery across the nation.
• Innovation and Education: By establishing Pakistan as a leader in quantum technology, CETQAP fosters global partnerships, stimulates STEM education, and inspires the next generation of scientists.

This breakthrough is expected to generate significant economic opportunities, with potential revenue from patents, international collaborations, and technology deployments. Socially, it enhances national resilience by safeguarding critical communications, while globally, it elevates Pakistan’s scientific standing.

A New Era for Pakistan

“Pakistan has made history,” said a spokesperson for CETQAP. “This is not just a technical achievement but a declaration of our nation’s potential to lead in the quantum age.” With this milestone, Pakistan joins the ranks of global quantum powerhouses like China and the EU, setting a new benchmark for secure communication worldwide. Beyond China and the EU surpassing 189 countries.

This marks the beginning of CETQAP’s journey to bring practical, quantum-secure solutions to the global market. Looking forward, CETQAP plans to scale up its capabilities deploy systems across Pakistan’s defense and banking sectors. This breakthrough is a testament to Pakistan’s ability to not only compete but lead in the burgeoning field of quantum technology.

As the world transitions into the quantum era, Pakistan stands at the forefront, ready to redefine global cybersecurity and lead the charge into a new, more secure digital age.