Pakistan saw a significant rise in reported cybercrime cases in 2025, with citizens filing a total of 142,272 complaints, according to data shared in Parliament by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The written response highlighted the growing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in handling the volume of digital offences. Authorities opened 26,036 regular inquiries, while the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency registered 1,955 cases, reflecting a concentrated effort to investigate serious cyber incidents. Despite these efforts, courts convicted only 31 accused and acquitted 122, illustrating the low conviction rate commonly observed in cybercrime enforcement and the limitations of existing investigative and judicial mechanisms.
The data presented also provided a broader view of trends over the past five years, showing that a total of 98,206 cybercrime inquiries were registered during the period. Out of these, 53,717 inquiries were successfully disposed of, while 51,696 remain pending, signaling a significant backlog in the investigative process. Law enforcement agencies also registered 7,690 FIRs in the same five-year span, with 3,505 disposed of and 4,185 still pending. These figures underscore the ongoing strain on investigative capacity and the complexity of cybercrime cases, which often involve cross-border elements, digital forensics challenges, and rapid technological change that complicates prosecution.
The low conviction rate and increasing backlog reflect systemic challenges in Pakistan’s cybercrime framework. While the NCIA and other law enforcement bodies have strengthened capabilities in recent years, the rapid growth of digital offences continues to outpace resources. Many cases involve social engineering, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to sensitive information, requiring sophisticated investigative techniques and coordination across multiple jurisdictions. The persistence of unresolved cases highlights the need for improved technical training, enhanced digital infrastructure, and updated legal frameworks to more effectively tackle cyber threats and bring perpetrators to justice.
The rising number of cybercrime complaints also points to heightened public awareness and willingness to report online offences, an encouraging sign for digital governance. Citizens are increasingly relying on law enforcement agencies for protection against cyber fraud, harassment, and online scams, reflecting broader digitization trends across Pakistan. As digital adoption expands, ensuring adequate investigative capacity and judicial efficiency will be critical to maintain public trust and secure the online environment. Authorities are under pressure to streamline procedures, enhance inter-agency coordination, and adopt modern investigative tools to reduce pending cases and improve conviction rates, reinforcing the importance of a robust cybercrime response framework for national security and citizen safety.
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