140 Cybercrime Cases Referred to NCCIA in One Year
News Desk
Islamabad: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs has been informed that 140 complaints involving cyber-enabled fraud, harassment and other cybercrimes were referred to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) during the financial year 2025–26.
The briefing revealed that the complaints referred through the Prime Minister’s Public Affairs & Grievances Wing included 80 cases of cyber financial fraud, 29 of cyber harassment, 17 of cyberbullying, six visa fraud cases and five cases of identity theft, while three were classified as general complaints.
The figures were presented during a meeting of the committee chaired by MNA Rana Iradat Sharif Khan at Parliament House in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The disclosure comes amid growing concerns over online financial scams and other forms of cybercrime, with the committee being told that the NCCIA has adopted a multi-pronged strategy involving investigations, digital forensics, institutional coordination and public awareness.
An NCCIA representative told lawmakers that the agency has established a web-based Complaints Management Unit to receive and process complaints. Citizens can lodge complaints through an email desk, an online portal, in person at any of the agency’s 15 Cyber Crime Reporting Centres, at NCCIA headquarters, or through postal correspondence.
However, the committee briefing did not provide a breakdown of how many of the 140 complaints resulted in arrests, prosecutions, recoveries or other concrete outcomes.
The committee was also briefed on complaints concerning several government institutions.
The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) said complaints received through the Prime Minister’s grievance mechanism had been processed according to the nature of each case and the eligibility of the complainants.
The Higher Education Commission told the committee it had received 18 complaints concerning financial assistance or scholarships for higher studies and 19 complaints regarding laptops under the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme. According to the briefing, the complaints were addressed by the relevant authorities after eligibility criteria were applied.
The HEC also informed lawmakers that the government does not provide financial assistance for higher studies to individuals outside the applicable arrangements.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority briefed the committee on the operation of the toll plaza on the Okara–Patoki section, including road maintenance and the condition of the infrastructure, amid difficulties reportedly faced by commuters.
The meeting was attended by several MNAs and senior officials from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, NCCIA, BISP, HEC and NHA.
