Pakistan's National Assembly received a stark warning on Friday about the country's escalating digital security crisis. The government revealed that authorities logged a staggering more than 150,000 complaints related to cybercrime throughout 2025, with financial scams constituting the overwhelming majority.
Alarming Statistics on Digital Fraud
In a formal response to a question from MNA Erum Hamid, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry provided detailed figures. He stated that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered a total of 150,542 complaints in the year. A deep dive into the data shows a disturbing trend: 81,996 of these reports were linked to financial fraud, highlighting a severe threat to citizens' economic security.
Another prevalent issue was the compromise of popular communication platforms, with 2,974 specific complaints concerning WhatsApp account hacking. Minister Chaudhry emphasized that cyber-enabled financial crimes remain a critical challenge, with criminals employing diverse tactics from fake investment opportunities and account takeovers to impersonating trusted individuals online.
Government's Multi-Pronged Response and Enforcement
Faced with this surge, the government outlined several initiatives aimed at bolstering public defence. A key focus is on enhancing digital literacy and cyber awareness, particularly among vulnerable demographics such as rural communities, women, the elderly, and those with lower literacy levels. Concrete steps include:
- Launching a dedicated public awareness and reporting portal (nccia.gov.pk).
- Establishing a dedicated cybercrime helpline (1799) for immediate assistance.
- Conducting outreach programs in collaboration with schools and universities.
On the enforcement front, the minister reported that from the massive pool of complaints, 10,756 formal inquiries were initiated after scrutiny. This led to the registration of 851 formal cases. Law enforcement has arrested 1,095 accused persons so far. The financial scale is immense, with the total amount involved in these crime cases calculated at Rs 2.716 billion. Authorities have managed to recover Rs 452.376 million, while investigations into the remaining cases are ongoing.
Preparing for Future Threats: AI and Deepfakes
Looking ahead at emerging dangers, Talal Chaudhry informed the House that the government is in the final stages of preparing Pakistan’s first-ever national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. He specifically flagged deepfake and voice-cloning scams as rapidly evolving threats that demand accelerated action. Combating these sophisticated crimes will require strengthened technical capabilities, updated legal frameworks, institutional reforms, and continued public awareness campaigns.
The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with other relevant agencies, is now working to reinforce the legal, technical, and institutional foundations needed to fight cybercrime. The goal is to provide better protection for citizens as Pakistan's digital landscape continues to expand and evolve.
