ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has mandated the escalation of efforts against cybercriminal activities, focusing on individuals and organized networks involved in online financial fraud, harassment, and digital blackmail. This directive was announced during his visit to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Central Zone headquarters, according to an Interior Ministry spokesperson.

According to the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises, Naqvi examined the agency's processes for addressing citizen complaints, visiting various departments including the complaints cell, forensic laboratory, and investigation wing. Following his inspection, he led a high-level meeting where he instructed officials to initiate an extensive crackdown against organized syndicates operating fake accounts and digital extortion schemes. He emphasized that swift action is necessary and called for the establishment of a rapid-response mechanism for financial fraud complaints to facilitate immediate coordination across institutions to secure victims' funds and trace perpetrators.

Naqvi underscored the importance of modernizing the agency's digital forensic capabilities and urged the adoption of advanced investigative software and specialized training for officers. Highlighting the complexity of emerging cybercrime, he reiterated the federal government's goal of transforming the NCCIA into a fully equipped cyber police force. The agency was directed to prioritize cases involving online harassment and exploitation, particularly those affecting women and children, while also focusing on data protection and economic security.

The visit concluded with a briefing by the NCCIA director general on the performance metrics of the Central Zone, current enforcement operations, and evolving cyber fraud patterns. The meeting was attended by key officials, including Director General NCCIA Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, DG FIA Usman Anwar, and IGP Islamabad Sohail Chaudhry.