Pakistan’s federal government has ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal call centers involved in suspected cyber fraud, blackmail, gambling, online scams, and other unlawful activities. A special task force will lead the operation under the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) headquarters.
The task force will include officials from the FIA, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), National Forensic Agency, federal police, and district administrations. It will coordinate raids and investigations across the country, while the Ministry of Interior will receive daily reports on the progress of the operation. Authorities have also prepared a list of suspected call centers in Karachi.
The decision follows recent raids in Islamabad, where hundreds of foreign nationals were detained from call center operations. In one operation, FIA and NCCIA teams arrested more than 370 foreigners in separate cases linked to visa violations and alleged unlawful online activities.
Authorities said cases were registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Foreigners Act against those involved. The latest action aims to shut down illegal operations, protect people from online scams, and hold those involved accountable under Pakistani law.
