Govt strengthens cybersecurity framework

May 14, 2026 (MLN): Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Thursday told the National Assembly that the government was intensifying efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cybersecurity system in response to the rising incidence of digital fraud and online crime.

Speaking during the Question Hour, the minister said the rapid expansion of technology and increasing internet penetration had led to a sharp rise in financial scams and cyber offences driven by malicious agendas, according to APP.

She informed lawmakers that the government had established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to tackle cybercrime through a more focused and specialized framework.

Previously, such cases were handled by the cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency, but the evolving nature of digital threats necessitated a dedicated institution.

Shaza Fatima said the Ministry of Interior was further enhancing the agency’s operational capacity to effectively investigate and counter emerging cyber threats.

The minister added that the Ministry of Information Technology and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority were actively conducting awareness campaigns and issuing cybersecurity advisories to educate the public about online safety risks.

She said the National Computer Emergency Response Team (National CERT) regularly warned citizens against sharing sensitive details such as PIN codes, one-time passwords (OTPs), and banking credentials with unknown individuals.

According to the minister, many incidents involving hacked WhatsApp accounts and compromised bank accounts occurred because users unknowingly shared confidential information with fraudsters.

Emphasizing the importance of digital awareness, she said public education remained one of the most effective tools in preventing cybercrime and safeguarding internet users.

Shaza Fatima also noted that Pakistan previously lacked a National CERT, adding that the institution was established during the tenure of the current government.

She further informed the House that provincial CERTs had also been created to improve coordination and cyber threat response mechanisms nationwide.

Responding to supplementary questions, the minister acknowledged the need for broader digital literacy campaigns and said the PTA continued to expand its public outreach initiatives despite limited resources.

She revealed that the government had collaborated with Meta last year on cybersecurity awareness drives and planned to partner with TikTok this year to further promote digital literacy and online safety awareness across the country.

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