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The government has intensified action against illegal call centers involved in online fraud, sealing dozens of units, arresting hundreds, and recovering millions of rupees. This crackdown highlights effort to curb cybercrime and protect citizens’ finances, dismantling organized online fraud networks and curbing the misuse of Pakistan’s digital and telecom infrastructure for criminal purposes.
Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, informed the Senate in a written reply to question by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro that a coordinated crackdown, led by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), uncovered these activities across the country. A total of 537 individuals were involved in online fraud, including 268 Pakistanis and 269 foreigners. During the raids, 213 Pakistanis and all 269 foreign suspects were arrested.
The minister also stated that 63 FIRs have been registered regarding these cases. He highlighted that the FIA’s overall recoveries since January 1, 2025, have reached Rs 1.405 billion, reflecting the government’s ongoing crackdown on cyber-enabled financial crimes.
To improve regulatory oversight and prevent future scams, minister Naqvi said a task force has been formed with representatives from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). The task force will develop a real-time information-sharing mechanism aimed at better compliance, stricter monitoring of digital and telecom activities, and raising awareness among stakeholders about their regulatory duties.
The minister emphasized that the government remains committed to dismantling organized online fraud networks and curbing the misuse of Pakistan’s digital and telecom infrastructure for criminal purposes.
