Islamabad : In an era where digital connectivity shapes every facet of modern life – from commerce to communication, governance to infrastructure – cybersecurity has emerged as a cornerstone of national security. Recognising the escalating scale and sophistication of cyber threats, the Government of Pakistan has taken a landmark step by establishing the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in 2025. This hi-tech agency is a pioneering institution, envisioned to serve as the country's premier force in combating cybercrime, protecting digital infrastructure and preserving the integrity of national cyberspace.
The establishment of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is a transformative milestone in Pakistan’s journey toward digital sovereignty, safety, and security. As cyber threats grow in complexity and impact, the NCCIA stands as a robust shield, combining legal authority, technological sophistication, and visionary leadership to defend the nation’s digital space. With its comprehensive mandate and capable leadership, it promises not only to combat cybercrime but also to shape a secure digital future for generations to come.
Formed as an autonomous federal agency under the aegis of the Ministry of Interior, the NCCIA represents a bold and strategic evolution in Pakistan’s cybersecurity framework. It is designed to address an expanding threat landscape, ranging from malicious hacking attempts to organised digital espionage, financial fraud, online extremism, and cross-border cyberterrorism.
The establishment of the NCCIA is not merely a bureaucratic reshuffling; it is a deliberate and calculated move towards building cyber resilience. It reflects Pakistan’s commitment to secure its digital frontiers and create a safe, regulated, and technologically robust ecosystem for its citizens, businesses, and critical institutions.
The NCCIA has been entrusted with a wide-ranging mandate encompassing investigation, enforcement, monitoring, policy implementation, and international collaboration. Its mission is to serve as a centralised, highly skilled, and technically empowered cyber law enforcement body with the authority to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes under national and international legal frameworks.
At its core, the NCCIA functions as the nation’s frontline investigative authority for cyber-related offenses. Its specialised task forces are empowered to conduct thorough investigations into a wide array of cybercrimes, including data breaches, financial fraud, cyberterrorism, identity theft, ransomware incidents, digital blackmail, and espionage. Serve as the lead prosecution agency under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and the newly introduced National Cyber Crime Act 2025. Work in close coordination with the judiciary, police departments, and public prosecutors to ensure effective trials and convictions of cybercriminals.
Understanding the critical need for proactive cyber defence, the NCCIA operates an advanced National Threat Intelligence Centre tasked with real-time monitoring of national digital infrastructures and IT systems, detection and neutralisation of cyberattacks targeting government databases, financial institutions, and public sector networks and integration with both national intelligence networks and global cyber monitoring frameworks to anticipate and thwart complex cyber threats.
As a central enforcement body, the NCCIA ensures compliance with all national cybersecurity regulations and standards. Its responsibilities including implementing the government’s cybersecurity policies across federal and provincial departments, conducting periodic audits of public-sector IT infrastructure to assess and enhance resilience against cyber intrusions and issuing guidelines and advisories for private organizations and digital enterprises on cyber hygiene, data protection, and IT governance.
In today’s interconnected digital landscape, cybercrime transcends borders. The NCCIA is therefore actively engaged in establishing partnerships with global cyber enforcement bodies such as INTERPOL, Europol EC3, and UNODC, facilitating cross-border intelligence sharing, digital evidence exchange, and mutual legal assistance under relevant international treaties and frameworks. And representing Pakistan at global cybersecurity summits, policy forums, and law enforcement dialogues to ensure a cohesive international stance against cybercrime.
The NCCIA derives its powers from the newly enacted National Cyber Crime Act 2025, which enhances and expands the provisions laid out in PECA 2016. It operates with full legal authority to issue search and seizure warrants for digital devices and online platforms, freeze suspicious online financial transactions and block malicious websites or servers and seize assets linked to cybercrime, including crypto currencies and digital wallets.
The agency functions independently while maintaining strategic coordination with other key institutions including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the National Response Centre for Cyber Crime (NR3C). The NCCIA headquarters is based in Islamabad, supported by a network of regional directorates in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Gilgit.
The government has appointed Waqar-ud-Din Syed, a grader-20, PSP officer, former additional DG Cybercrime Wing, as first Director General (DG) NCCIA following his recent conferral of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (SI) by the President of Pakistan, recognising his exemplary service and outstanding performance in combating during his tenure at FIA.
As additional director general Cybercrime Wing he intensified efforts and focus to protect the virtual boundaries of Pakistan by devising strategy at national level, by coordinating with all stakeholders.
Improved the international liaison with INTERPOL and other stakeholders for obtaining data in complex cases of Online Child Abuse, terrorism and financial fraud. Close cooperation with INTERPOL and social media companies resulted in timely investigation of cases having cross-border jurisdiction.