The federal government has brought cyber crimes under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), giving sweeping new powers to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
A notification declared NCCIA both an investigative and prosecuting body. The agency can now act against cyber terrorism, online fraud, child exploitation, identity theft, and trafficking cases where digital systems are misused.
Spreading false or misleading information on social media has also been criminalised under the AMLA, according to SAMAA News. Authorities said income generated through disinformation campaigns will be probed as a financial crime.
The amendments revise Schedule 1 of the AMLA and add Section 15, which incorporates a wide range of cyber offenses. These include unauthorised SIM issuance, child pornography, abduction, and digital fraud.
The Ministry of Interior officials said the changes aim to strengthen the legal framework for tackling cybercrime. They argued the move will ensure faster investigations and stricter oversight of technology-driven money laundering.
Officials also stressed that the expansion aligns Pakistan with global compliance standards on anti-money laundering, bringing tighter regulation of both financial and cyber activities.
