NCCIA bolsters Pakistan’s Cybercrime fight as 40 police officers deployed

According to Office Order No. 3640-43/E-I, issued by the Islamabad Police on September 11, 2026, the personnel have been transferred on deputation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has stepped up efforts to strengthen its response to rising cybercrime, with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) expanding its operational capacity and the Islamabad Police deputing 40 personnel to the agency for three years.

According to Office Order No. 3640-43/E-I, issued by the Islamabad Police on September 11, 2026, the personnel have been transferred on deputation to the NCCIA and directed to report to its headquarters immediately.

The officers include six inspectors, 16 sub-inspectors, three lady sub-inspectors, one assistant sub-inspector, two head constables, 10 constables and two lady constables.

The move comes as the government seeks to strengthen institutional capacity to deal with financial fraud, online harassment, blackmail, identity-related offences and other forms of cybercrime that have grown alongside Pakistan’s expanding digital landscape.

Sources familiar with the development told Minute Mirror that the additional manpower is intended to enhance the NCCIA’s investigation and enforcement capabilities and enable it to respond more effectively to the growing volume and complexity of cybercrime complaints.

The sources said the deputation is also part of a broader effort to improve coordination between cybercrime investigators and law-enforcement institutions dealing with cases that have digital, financial or cross-border dimensions.

The NCCIA was established as the country’s central agency for investigating cybercrime and enforcing relevant cyber laws. Its responsibilities include investigation of cyber offences, protection of digital interests and promotion of public awareness regarding online threats.

According to figures cited in the briefing, the agency received 171,600 complaints in 2024, representing a reported 12.7 per cent increase over the previous year. Financial fraud accounted for the largest reported category, while Lahore was identified as the district contributing the highest share of complaints.

The data also indicated that women accounted for 21.6 per cent of complainants, with online harassment and blackmail among the issues reported.

Financial scams remain a major concern for internet users, with fraudsters increasingly using deceptive calls, messages, websites and links to obtain sensitive financial information. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid sharing passwords, PINs and one-time passwords and to verify payment requests before transferring money.

Online harassment and the misuse of personal information have also emerged as significant challenges. Citizens are advised to strengthen their social media privacy settings, avoid sharing sensitive personal information online and exercise caution when interacting with unknown individuals.

The NCCIA is also working with other law-enforcement and regulatory bodies, including the FIA, NAB, Islamabad Police, provincial police departments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, INTERPOL and UNODC, according to information provided in the briefing.

The agency operates through regional offices in major cities, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Quetta, Gwadar, Islamabad and Gilgit.

The expansion of manpower comes at a time when cybercrime investigations increasingly require specialised expertise, digital evidence handling and coordination between agencies. Officials and sources familiar with the matter say strengthening these capabilities is essential to improving the country’s overall digital security framework.

The deployment of the 40 Islamabad Police personnel is therefore being viewed as an important step towards increasing the NCCIA’s investigative capacity. However, the effectiveness of the initiative will ultimately depend on training, technological resources, inter-agency coordination and the timely processing of complaints.

The agency has also emphasised public awareness as an important component of its cybercrime strategy, encouraging citizens to report suspected online offences rather than allowing fraudulent or abusive activity to go unreported.

With cyber threats continuing to evolve, the latest deployment signals a broader push to build a stronger institutional response to digital crime and improve protection for citizens, businesses and public institutions operating in Pakistan’s increasingly connected environment.