Shaza Fatima Khawaja has stated that Pakistan is strengthening its cyber security framework to combat the rising threat of digital fraud and cybercrime as part of ongoing efforts to secure the country’s expanding digital ecosystem. Speaking in the National Assembly, she highlighted that incidents of financial fraud and agenda driven cybercrime have increased significantly due to rapid technological advancement and growing digital connectivity, requiring stronger institutional and technical responses across the country.
She informed lawmakers that cybercrime in Pakistan was previously handled by the cyber wing of the Federal Investigation Agency, but the increasing complexity of digital offences necessitated the creation of a more specialized institution. This led to the establishment of National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, which has been tasked with investigating cyber related offences more effectively. The minister added that the Ministry of Interior is further strengthening the agency’s operational capacity to improve response mechanisms against emerging cyber threats, while coordinated efforts are also being carried out with PTA and other stakeholders to enhance public awareness on cyber safety practices.
According to the minister, Pakistan has already developed a national cyber security framework designed to safeguard public sector digital infrastructure and improve threat monitoring capabilities across government systems. She noted that National CERT plays a key role in issuing advisories to citizens, particularly warnings related to phishing attempts, fake messages, and unsafe sharing of sensitive data such as PIN codes and one time passwords. She further emphasized that most cases of hacked WhatsApp accounts and compromised banking services occur due to user negligence in sharing authentication credentials with fraudsters, making awareness a critical component of national cyber defence strategy.
The minister also highlighted that cyber security efforts are being expanded through multiple government initiatives, including the establishment of provincial CERT structures and broader coordination between federal agencies to strengthen digital resilience. She stated that the government is actively investing in awareness campaigns and partnerships with digital platforms such as Meta and TikTok to improve cyber literacy among citizens. These efforts are aimed at reducing vulnerabilities that lead to financial fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access to digital accounts. She also referenced Pakistan’s ongoing digital transformation initiatives under the Digital Nation Pakistan framework, which is driving expansion of online public services and digital infrastructure across multiple sectors.
Officials noted that strengthening cyber security has become increasingly important as Pakistan’s digital economy grows and more citizens rely on mobile banking, online services, and e governance platforms. The government maintains that a combination of institutional capacity building, public awareness, and technical safeguards is essential to reducing exposure to cyber threats. The minister reiterated that protecting citizens’ data and ensuring secure digital systems remains a key priority, with continued investment planned in cybersecurity technologies, monitoring systems, and national level coordination mechanisms to counter evolving cyber risks.
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