Islamabad, May 3 (PTI): According to sources, the Pakistani government has established a new agency dedicated solely to combating the country’s growing number of cybercrimes.

The National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) was established under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA) to replace the now-defunct Cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

According to the officials, all existing personnel, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, privileges, inquiries, and investigations pertaining to the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing will now be transferred to the NCCIA.

However, the existing Cybercrime Wing workers would continue to execute their jobs for another year until new staff were appointed at the NCCIA.

The NCCIA will be led by a director-general appointed by the federal government to a two-year term.

It stated that the candidate must have “not less than 15 years of experience” in computer science, digital forensics, cyber technology, law, public administration, information technology, telecommunications, or related fields to be able to deal with PECA Act offences.

According to the announcement, the NCCIA chief will have the authority of an inspector general of police, while the agency’s business with the federal government will be handled by the Interior Division.
It said that the NCCIA will be the official agency for international collaboration.