Islamabad — The federal government has ordered an immediate, country‑wide sweep of illegal call‑centres suspected of running cyber‑fraud schemes, blackmail operations, illegal gambling and other online scams, with a specially formed task force under the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) slated to lead the operation from its headquarters.
The directive, issued on Monday, authorises FIA officers and provincial police to raid, seize equipment and shut down any call‑centre that lacks proper licensing or is linked to fraudulent activities. Officials say the crackdown targets both stand‑alone operations and larger networks that have been exploiting Pakistani citizens, overseas workers and businesses by siphoning funds through deceptive phone‑based scams.
Authorities highlighted that the illicit centres often masquerade as legitimate customer‑service or telemarketing firms, yet they funnel millions of rupees abroad through fake loan offers, phishing calls and rigged gambling platforms. The task force will also collaborate with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to trace the digital footprints of these operations and block the phone lines and internet services used to coordinate the scams.
The move comes as part of a broader strategy to reinforce Pakistan’s digital security framework and curb the rise of cybercrime that has surged since the adoption of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in 2016. Government spokespeople noted that the proliferation of illegal call‑centres has eroded public confidence in the country’s burgeoning outsourcing sector and has attracted unwanted attention from foreign regulators.
Local business associations welcomed the initiative, pointing out that legitimate call‑centre enterprises—particularly those in Punjab and Sindh that provide employment to thousands—have suffered reputational damage due to the activities of rogue operators. By dismantling the unlawful networks, the administration hopes to protect both domestic investors and the overseas Pakistani diaspora, which has been a frequent target of cross‑border fraud schemes.
The FIA has warned that the operation will remain in force until every unlawful set‑up is identified and closed, and that individuals found complicit could face stringent penalties under existing cyber‑crime legislation. The task force is expected to publish periodic updates on the number of raids conducted, arrests made and assets recovered, signalling the government’s resolve to clean up the sector and safeguard the nation’s digital economy.