Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced plans to strengthen National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) as cybercrime complaints continue to rise across Punjab, highlighting the growing pressure on investigators handling online fraud, cyber harassment and digital blackmail cases. Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naqvi said the agency currently has only 61 personnel serving a province of nearly 140 million people, leaving investigators responsible for thousands of cases each. He said the shortage of staff and resources would be raised with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as part of broader efforts to improve the agency’s operational capacity and ensure more timely responses to cybercrime complaints.
Naqvi explained that individual investigating officers are currently responsible for approximately 3,000 to 4,000 cases while also managing court appearances, complainant interviews, investigations and challan preparation. He noted that if the workload in Lahore was already difficult, the situation in Multan and several other districts was even more challenging. To address these issues, the government plans to expand NCCIA by increasing personnel, improving resources, opening additional regional offices and establishing dedicated NCCIA police stations across the country. According to the minister, planning for the new police stations is expected to be finalized within the next 10 to 15 days. He stressed that certain complaints, particularly those involving online harassment and digital blackmail targeting women and girls, require immediate attention because delays of even a few days can have serious consequences. Recalling meetings with women who had attempted suicide after experiencing online harassment, Naqvi emphasized the need for a faster and more responsive investigation process in sensitive cases.
The minister also pointed to procedural challenges within the current legal framework, explaining that NCCIA is required to issue three notices before registering a First Information Report, a process that can delay action in urgent situations. He said the government would review ways to improve response mechanisms while continuing to strengthen public awareness efforts aimed at reducing cyber related risks. Naqvi advised women and girls to exercise caution when sharing personal photographs or videos online, warning that such content could later be misused for coercion or blackmail. He also encouraged citizens to remain alert against financial scams in which fraudsters impersonate relatives or claim medical emergencies to persuade victims to transfer money. According to him, these fraudulent schemes range from relatively small amounts to losses worth millions of rupees. He further urged the public to protect passwords and other sensitive information, noting that stronger digital awareness remains one of the most effective tools for reducing cybercrime incidents across the country.
Naqvi said approximately 600 individuals were sacked during recent operations targeting illegal call centres over the previous 10 to 12 days, praising NCCIA personnel for carrying out enforcement activities despite limited staffing and resources. He added that the government intends to strengthen coordination with banks to improve the identification and freezing of accounts linked to fraudulent transactions before additional financial losses occur. The minister noted that some investigative powers currently available to Federal Investigation Agency are not yet available to NCCIA, and expanding those capabilities would improve cybercrime investigations. He also stated that government employees should not receive special treatment if allegations in harassment related cases are established, while efforts are continuing to address fake social media accounts and other forms of online abuse through coordination with relevant authorities. Naqvi further highlighted Pakistan’s cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, embassies and police liaison officers in pursuing suspects involved in cross border cybercrime, emphasizing that stronger institutional capacity, public awareness and international collaboration remain central to the government’s strategy for addressing online fraud, cyber harassment and digital crime.
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