Pakistan orders intensified crackdown on cybercrime

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered an intensified crackdown on cybercrime, specifically targeting online financial fraud, digital blackmail, and online harassment. During a visit to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) headquarters in Lahore, Naqvi directed authorities to take indiscriminate action against organized networks involved in fake accounts and digital abuse.

To combat financial fraud, the minister called for a strengthened response system to allow for faster coordination between institutions. This mechanism aims to secure victims’ funds and trace offenders more quickly after a report is filed. Additionally, Naqvi emphasized the need for modern digital forensic capabilities and specialized training for investigation officers to handle increasingly complex cases.

The directives also highlight a priority to protect women and children from online harassment and to safeguard citizens’ data, privacy, and financial information. This move comes as Pakistan faces a high volume of cybercrime, with government figures indicating that over 157,000 complaints were filed last year.