Pakistan’s newly established cybercrime watchdog, NCCIA, has sought technical assistance from the military to address a critical shortage of skilled personnel and investigative staff, it was reported on Monday.
According to the report, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has formally requested support from the Pakistan Army to strengthen its operational capacity.
The request was conveyed through a letter issued by the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry of Defence and the NCCIA.
According to the communication, the Interior Ministry has sought the deployment of technical personnel from the Pakistan Army.
Officials clarified that the army’s technical team would provide only specialised technical assistance.
Sources within the NCCIA said the agency is currently inundated with thousands of complaints from across the country, ranging from online fraud and harassment to data breaches and financial scams.
In response to the rising volume of cybercrime cases, steps are being taken to enhance technical capacity and improve investigative efficiency.
Sources said for a population of approximately 250 million people, the cybercrime authority has only 177 investigation officers tasked with handling cases nationwide, underscoring the scale of the manpower crisis.
The NCCIA was formally established in May 2024 and became fully operational in April 2025 as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Interior, replacing the former Cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency.
Empowered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), the agency serves as the central body responsible for investigating and prosecuting cyber-related offences, conducting digital forensic analysis and coordinating internationally on cross-border cybercrime cases.
