Punjab decides to establish its own Cyber Crime Agency amid rising online offenses

Due to the poor performance of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the rising incidents of cybercrime, the Punjab government has decided in principle to set up its own provincial cyber agency.

According to reports, the Punjab government, expressing dissatisfaction with the NCCIA’s performance, has opted to create an independent agency to deal with the growing threat of cybercrime in the province.

The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday. It was decided that a Cyber Crime Wing would be established in Punjab to prevent the misuse of digital platforms.

A senior official told Dawn that Punjab had been facing difficulties as the NCCIA failed to handle complaints effectively, often resulting in significant delays in investigations.

He said that, given the rapid surge in cybercrime in the country’s most populous province, the government felt the need for a dedicated wing to address the threat more efficiently.

After the NCCIA replaced the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing in May, the Punjab government attempted to collaborate with the federal body — but those efforts proved unsuccessful.

The Punjab government has faced mounting challenges on social media, particularly as political opponents target the Sharif family. Even provincial ministers, including Information Minister Azma Bukhari, have filed complaints with the NCCIA over online defamation.

Recently, Azma Bukhari announced that she would pursue legal action under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) against TV host Mubasher Lucman for defamation.

However, questions have been raised over whether the proposed provincial cybercrime wing will be used politically to target opponents rather than to address public grievances.

Meanwhile, the NCCIA itself is struggling with a severe shortage of staff and resources, receiving thousands of complaints each month.

The overwhelming workload has hindered its ability to resolve cases promptly.