Javed Hussain
Correspondent
I have almost 20 years of experience in print, radio, and TV media. I started my career with "Daily Jang" after which I got the opportunity to work in FM 103, Radio Pakistan, News One, Ab Tak News, Dawn News TV, Dunya News, 92 News and regional channels Rohi TV, Apna Channel and Sach TV where I worked and gained experience in different areas of all three mediums. My journey from reporting to news anchor in these organisations was excellent. Now, I am working as a correspondent with Nukta in Islamabad, where I get the opportunity of in-depth journalism and storytelling while I am now covering parliamentary affairs, politics, and technology.
NCCIA has noted that financial fraud and cybercrime pose a serious threat to national security.
Reuters/File
Pakistan's cybercrime government agency has launched a series of operations against illegal call centers across the country, recovering over PKR 40 million in illicit funds and highlighting the growing threat of cybercrime.
The National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) was formally established in April 2025 under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Amendment Act (PECA), converting the former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing (CCW) into an independent and autonomous entity.
The agency is tasked with investigating and preventing a broad range of digital offences, including online fraud, harassment, digital blackmail, identity theft, fake websites, and social media crimes. Following the NCCIA’s creation, the FIA’s CCW was officially dissolved, and all cybercrime responsibilities were transferred to the new agency.
From January 2024 to June 2025, the combined efforts of the former CCW and the NCCIA led to operations targeting 63 call centers and software houses in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan, and Lahore, the NCCI said in its report.
These raids resulted in the arrest of 450 individuals, including 195 Pakistanis and 255 foreign nationals. A total of 53 FIRs were registered, with these call centers accused of financial fraud exceeding PKR 72 million, of which just over PKR 40 million has been recovered so far.
Karachi saw the highest number of actions, with 19 call centers raided, followed by 17 in Islamabad, 11 in Lahore, 8 in Rawalpindi, 7 in Faisalabad, and 1 in Multan.
Islamabad alone accounted for the arrest of 183 foreign nationals, while Faisalabad saw 72 foreigners detained. The data reflect the continued mandate of the CCW until April 2025 and the NCCIA thereafter.
Despite these measures, the NCCIA reports challenges in coordination with agencies, including the FIA, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the State Bank, and telecom operators.
The agency has noted that financial fraud and cybercrime pose a serious threat to national security, underscoring the need for more cohesive inter-agency cooperation.
Comments
See what people are discussing