The government of Pakistan has established a new authority to deal with cybercrimes, which supersedes the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s Cybercrime Wing, leaving it “defunct”, it emerged on Friday.
The authority, called the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), has been constituted under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, commonly known as PECA, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT).
The notification, which is available with Digital Rights Monitor (DRM), says the FIA will “cease to perform functions as designated agency” under PECA.
The NCCIA will take over all existing “personnel, cases, inquiries, investigations, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, privileges” and other matters from the now “defunct” Cybercrime Wing of the FIA. The officials currently holding positions within the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing will, however, continue their duties for a period of one year until new staff are appointed at the NCCIA.
“The NCCIA shall consist of a director general, additional director general, directors, additional directors, deputy, directors, assistant, directors and such other officers, as the director general may determine,” the notification reads.
The watchdog will be led by a director-general, who will be appointed by the government. The head will serve a two-year term at the agency and will be required to have at least 15 years of experience in computer science, cyber technology, digital forensics, public administration, law, and other fields to “deal with offences” laid out under PECA, according to the notification.
The development comes a day after Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the government would establish a separate authority to deal with online crimes, including “harassment”. The establishment of the NCCIA was green-lit by the federal cabinet led by the caretaker government in December 2023.
