Summary
- The government responded by launching the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), amending PECA 2025, and rolling out the National Cyber Security Policy to tackle deep fakes, financial fraud, and online misinformation.During a National Assembly question and answer session, Interior Minister Senator Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi revealed the alarming scale of Pakistan’s cybercrime problem.
- The NCCIA has independent authority to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes and is equipped with state of the art digital forensic labs capable of handling encrypted data, social media offences, and complex financial fraud cases.Legislative reforms under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, Amendments were also introduced in 2025 to tackle emerging threats such as deep fakes and mass misinformation campaigns.
- The NCCIA also launched public awareness campaigns via social media, seminars, and workshops to educate citizens about digital hygiene and prevent offenses like phishing, online harassment, and fraud.Despite these initiatives, analysts warn that the dramatic fall in convictions, coupled with the rising volume of complaints, underscores systemic weaknesses in Pakistan’s cybercrime enforcement framework.
AI Generated Summary
ISlamabad: Pakistan is facing a cyber crime emergency with convictions plunging to an all time low despite tens of thousands of complaints each year. National Assembly disclosures show only eight convictions in 2026, down from 92 in 2023, raising serious questions about enforcement. The government responded by launching the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), amending PECA 2025, and rolling out the National Cyber Security Policy to tackle deep fakes, financial fraud, and online misinformation.During a National Assembly question and answer session, Interior Minister Senator Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi revealed the alarming scale of Pakistan’s cybercrime problem. Operational data show complaints rising from 134,710 in 2023 to 161,828 in 2024 and 157,465 in 2025, before falling to 77,023 in 2026. However, enforcement outcomes paint a starkly different picture. Arrests collapsed from 2,916 in 2025 to just 520 in 2026, and convictions dropped precipitously from 92 in 2023 to a shocking eight in 2026. Acquittals also declined, from 416 to only 25. Experts warn that the widening gap between complaints and convictions could embolden cyber criminals and undermine public confidence. To address these challenges, the government established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), replacing the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing. The NCCIA has independent authority to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes and is equipped with state of the art digital forensic labs capable of handling encrypted data, social media offences, and complex financial fraud cases.Legislative reforms under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, Amendments were also introduced in 2025 to tackle emerging threats such as deep fakes and mass misinformation campaigns. The reforms include forming the Social Media Protection Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) to ensure platform compliance, establishing Social Media Protection Tribunals composed of legal, technical, and media experts for efficient adjudication, and introducing Section 26 A to penalize the deliberate spread of false information causing public panic with up to three years in prison.The government further strengthened national defenses with the National Cyber Security Policy (NCSP). A centralized National Cyber Emergency Response Team monitors and mitigates threats targeting critical infrastructure, including energy and financial sectors. The policy mandates the localization of sensitive data for sectors such as identity management, finance, and defense to minimize risks from cross-border data breaches. In addition, law enforcement personnel are receiving advanced training in artificial intelligence based threat detection and blockchain analysis through collaborations with international partners. The NCCIA also launched public awareness campaigns via social media, seminars, and workshops to educate citizens about digital hygiene and prevent offenses like phishing, online harassment, and fraud.Despite these initiatives, analysts warn that the dramatic fall in convictions, coupled with the rising volume of complaints, underscores systemic weaknesses in Pakistan’s cybercrime enforcement framework. Without enhanced investigative capacity and judicial support, the country risks a surge in unpunished digital crime, threatening citizens and critical infrastructure alike.
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