Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on IT has raised alarm over Rs. 3 billion annual cyber fraud linked to online scams, fake calls, and loan apps. The National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) reported that over 60% of complaints involve electronic crimes, with fraud losses underreported. Lawmakers also questioned PTA’s telecom regulation, Jazz tariff approvals, and tribunal delays, calling for stricter oversight of Pakistan’s digital sector.

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, has expressed serious concern over the rising wave of cybercrime in Pakistan. Officials from the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) revealed that online frauds, loan app scams, and weaknesses in telecom regulation have resulted in losses exceeding Rs. 3 billion annually.

According to NCCIA, over 60% of all complaints received are related to electronic crimes, with the actual financial damage likely far higher due to widespread underreporting.

Cybercrime on the Rise

Lawmakers were informed that:

• Citizens are being deceived through fake courier calls, phishing scams, and fraudulent mobile codes.

• WhatsApp accounts are being hacked for up to 12 hours, during which fraudsters impersonate victims to extort money from family and friends.

• In just one year, 63 illegal call centers were raided, resulting in 450 arrests and the identification of Rs. 720 million in fraud cases.

Telecom Transparency Concerns

The session also highlighted transparency issues within Pakistan’s telecom sector. Lawmakers criticized the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) after audit officials claimed that Jazz’s tariff approvals worth over Rs. 6 billion were processed without full record-sharing.

Former IT Minister Senator Anusha Rahman accused the PTA of damaging the private sector’s reputation by failing to ensure regulatory oversight.

Pending Legal and Regulatory Issues

Concerns were also raised over:

• Delays in telecom tribunal appointments.

• Spectrum-related cases pending in multiple courts.

• Forum shopping practices by telecom companies.

The committee directed the PTA, SECP, and Ministry of IT to provide complete records at the next meeting, while summoning the Law Ministry to explain delays in tribunal appointments.

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Cyber Crime is one of the serious crimes of the time. With its increasing rate especially girls are facing great problems. They do not feel secure.

Now criminals won’t be spared.  Yasir Latif became the first culprit. He belongs to Lahore and he was accused for photo shopping pictures of girls and uploading them on social media.

The complaints against him were registered by the parents of the girls. His case was heard in Additional District and Session Judge in Lahore. After a lot of argues about, was he guilty or not? He was found guilty.

He is jailed for two years and has to pay a fine of Rs. 30,000/- as his punishment.

Yasir tried to defend himself by saying that his account was used by another person, but he was found guilty of it and sentenced to two years punishment.

Copying, photo shopping or distributing pictures of girls is part of cyber stalking. Without the consent of girl even sharing their pictures is illegal under Cyber Crime Law.

For cyber stalking, a person can be sentenced up to Rs. 1 million in fine or up to 3 years in prison. A person can be given both punishments together as well.

The bigger crime is making video or pictures of others without their consent and it can lead to fine if Rs. 1 million and 3 years jail.

The Cyber Crime Law Bill 2016 was passed this year in August. It was passed after much debate and after going through several amendments. The bill provides a basic framework of laws which prevent cyber crimes in the country.

It is justified decision no one had right to steal someone privacy or black mail them. Every person’s privacy should be maintained even on social networks. These networks are for the people to interact but in a positive way. Hope Cyber Crime entirely stops so everyone could feel safe.

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