The Punjab government has decided to establish its own cybercrime agency following concerns about the performance of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The decision was reached during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mariam Nawaz in Lahore, where officials reviewed the growing number of unresolved online complaints and challenges in coordination with the federal authority. The new Cybercrime Wing will be created under the provincial setup to better address the increasing misuse of digital platforms and to handle cyber-related issues more effectively.
A senior government official said that Punjab had been facing difficulties in getting timely responses from NCCIA, which was formed earlier this year after replacing the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cybercrime Wing. The official added that many complaints from citizens in the province remained pending for long periods, prompting the administration to consider a separate structure. The province has seen a notable rise in online complaints related to fraud, impersonation, and privacy violations, leading authorities to focus on improving digital safety and public confidence in complaint handling.
The decision also comes amid growing activity on social media where several provincial leaders have reported incidents involving misinformation and online content targeting them. Information Minister Azma Bokhari recently announced her intention to file a case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act regarding such online activity. While some observers have questioned the timing of Punjab’s decision, government representatives have maintained that the move aims to enhance provincial capacity to respond to digital issues efficiently and transparently.
At the same time, NCCIA continues to face challenges of limited staffing and technical resources as the number of online complaints rises each month. According to officials, the agency handles a high volume of reports, including cases related to digital fraud and privacy concerns. However, the shortage of trained personnel and outdated software tools have made it difficult to manage investigations efficiently. Delays in evidence verification and tracing of online activity remain key concerns, particularly due to limited cooperation from some international digital service providers.
Officials explained that data-sharing requests to platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Google, and Gmail are often not fulfilled because there are no formal agreements between the government and these companies. Without such arrangements, agencies are unable to obtain timely data needed for investigations, except in specific circumstances where immediate intervention is required. Experts believe that developing better coordination mechanisms with these platforms and investing in advanced training for investigators would help improve overall performance.
The growing number of online cases across the country has highlighted the importance of capacity building and stronger coordination between federal and provincial institutions. Officials have suggested that Punjab’s new cybercrime wing should focus on improving digital complaint response times, adopting modern investigative tools, and training personnel to handle online cases more effectively. The initiative is expected to strengthen digital governance and provide citizens with a more responsive and efficient channel for addressing cyber-related issues.
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