The National Assembly on Friday voiced concern over rising cyber scams across Pakistan, as lawmakers highlighted an alarming spike in fraudulent online schemes targeting citizens. Members warned that the surge in fake messages, bogus challans and impersonation scams was inflicting financial losses and, in some cases, exposing people to serious legal consequences.
Read More: Cyber Threat and Pakistan’s National Security
PTI leader Sheryar Afridi told the House that many young Pakistanis were facing criminal charges after unknowingly engaging with fraudulent online communications. He said several individuals had been accused of blasphemy or anti-state activities after responding to fake messages from accounts posing as representatives of educational institutions, banks and mobile phone companies.
قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس کے وقفۂ سوالات کے دوران رکن قومی اسمبلی شہریار خان آفریدی نے عوام بالخصوص نوجوانوں کو سوشل میڈیا ایپلیکیشنز پر موصول ہونے والے خطرناک، توہین آمیز، جعلی اور دھوکہ دہی پر مبنی لنکس کے حوالے سے سوال اٹھایا، جن کے جواب دینے کے نتیجے میں معصوم نوجوانوں اور شہریوں… pic.twitter.com/S9bKZyzgrc
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) January 16, 2026
PPP lawmaker Shazia Marri drew particular attention to counterfeit traffic challans sent by fraudsters, noting that many citizens assumed the penalties were genuine and paid them without verification. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said he had personally received similar messages accusing him of traffic violations.
قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس کے وقفۂ سوالات کے دوران رکن قومی اسمبلی محترمہ شازیہ مری نے ملک میں شہریوں کو آن لائن جعلی ٹریفک چالان موصول ہونے سے پیدا ہونے والے مسائل کے حوالے سے سوال اٹھایا۔
وزیر مملکت برائے داخلہ و انسداد منشیات، طلال چوہدری نے ان کے سوال کا جواب دیا#NASession… pic.twitter.com/2lqao7R36t
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) January 16, 2026
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry acknowledged the scale of the problem and said reforms were underway to strengthen the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). He said the agency had received over 150,000 cybercrime complaints last year, including more than 81,000 related to financial offences. According to the minister, 1,095 suspects had been arrested and cellular operators were being instructed to tighten their SIM issuance protocols.
قومی اسمبلی اجلاس کے وقفہ سوالات کے دوران رکن قومی اسمبلی محترمہ نعیمہ کشور خان کا سوشل میڈیا ایپلیکیشن واٹس ایپ کے ذریعے فراڈ اور دیگر آن لائن سکیمز/فراڈ کی روک تھام کے لئے حکومت کی جانب سے اٹھائے گئے اقدامات کے حوالے سے سوال
وزیر مملکت برائے داخلہ و انسداد منشیات، طلال چوہدری… pic.twitter.com/MNPZe8hUFZ
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) January 16, 2026
Chaudhry said capacity-building measures were being implemented to enhance cyber investigations and improve coordination with telecom and financial institutions. He also briefly addressed separate queries on environmental and civic issues, asserting that Islamabad’s air quality had improved compared to last year and that a new Vision 2027 blueprint for the capital’s development would be introduced this month.
Read More: 80,000 SIM cards blocked for spreading fake news
Earlier, the lower House also heard updates on privatisation and export policy. State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani defended the privatisation of PIA’s core operations, calling the process transparent and aimed at improving performance, while Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan outlined interventions to boost exports.