National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency

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National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA)
نیشنل سائبر کرائم انویسٹی گیشن ایجنسی
National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency logo.png
AbbreviationNCCIA
Agency overview
Formed3 May 2024;15 months ago (2024-05-03)
Preceding agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction{{{countryabbr}}}
Legal jurisdictionAs per operations jurisdiction
Governing body Government of Pakistan
Operational structure
Headquarters Islamabad
Agency executive
  • Waqar-ud-Din Syed PSP [1] , Director General
Parent agency Ministry of Interior
Website
https://www.nccia.gov.pk/

National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is a specialized agency established by the Government of Pakistan on 3 May 2024 to investigate cyber crime within the country. The agency replaced the Cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) .

Contents

History

In December 2023, Umar Saif, then Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, announced plans to create the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) with the intention to replace the Cybercrime Wing of the FIA. [2]

On 3 May 2024, Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Information also announced the government's plan on establishing an agency "to safeguard the digital rights of people and counter propaganda and rumours on social media." [3] The same day, the NCCIA was formally established under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA), leading to the cessation of the Cybercrime Wing of the FIA. [4]

The FIA cyber wing has been merged into NCCIA including transfer of all cases within the wing.

Jurisdiction

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) operates across the Pakistan.

Notable operations

On 11 June 2025 , The NCCIA in collaboration with the PTA conducted two successful enforcement operations targeting illegal IMEI tampering and the sale of cloned or patched mobile devices in Gujranwala.

On 29 June 2025 , In a significant development, the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested two suspects involved in committing Rs20 billion online fraud in Multan. while efforts are in progress to arrest a third .They allegedly persuaded citizens into investing in fake trading schemes by promising lucrative returns, eventually deceiving residents of South Punjab out of billions.

On 7 July 2025 , NCCIA officers arrested 149 people, including 78 Pakistanis, 48 Chinese nationals, 8 Nigerians, 4 Filipinos, 2 Sri Lankans, 6 Bangladeshis, 2 Myanmar nationals and 1 Zimbabwean national , during a raid on a factory in the city of Faisalabad , in what authorities are calling a major blow against a transnational cybercrime syndicate. The group allegedly ran a large-scale online fraud operation involving hacking, Ponzi schemes, and investment scams targeting the general public.

Reception

Following the establishment of NCCIA, DAWN in its editorial questioned the creation of NCCIA and expressed concerns about the potential ramifications. DAWN's editorial highlighted worries that NCCIA, tasked with handling offenses under the PECA Ordinance, might intensify surveillance and data collection practices, potentially infringing on citizens' personal liberties under the pretext of security. The editorial also feared that NCCIA's objective could be to tighten control over social media and empower crackdowns on activists, dissidents, and journalists critical of state policies. [5]

References

  1. "Cybercrime agency, FIA get new heads". DAWN.COM. 5 April 2025.
  2. "Federal cabinet approves Pakistan's first-ever National Space Policy". DAWN.COM. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. Raza, Syed Irfan (3 May 2024). "Govt to form new body to combat misinformation: Attaullah Tarar". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. Momand, Abdullah (3 May 2024). "Govt notifies new cybercrime investigation agency to tackle Peca offences". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. "Hasty transition". DAWN.COM. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.