FIA received 56,000 cyber-crime complaints in 2019.

ISLAMABAD -- The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication was told that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had received more than 56,000 complaints of cybercrimes during the last year but convictions had been made only in 32 cases.

The Senate Standing Committee on IT met at the Parliament House under the chairpersonship of Senator Rubina Khalid. The meeting was briefed that the FIA had received more than 56,000 complaints of cybercrimes during last year.

Of these, more than 11,000 complaints were investigated, while only 32 people were convicted. It was further said that cases had been initiated on only 32 complaints.

The committee chairperson expressed her displeasure and asked the FIA to play a more proactive role to wipe up the menace of cybercrime. She noted that the offenders made fake online accounts of famous personalities including the parliamentarians and tried to profit by bringing them into disrepute. She said the FIA cybercrime wing had been directed to take action against those criminals. The committee also expressed concern over the slow pace of work and spending of budget on the development projects by the IT ministry.

The panel was apprised that the IT ministry had utilized only 17.72% of the allocated budget for the current fiscal year, while 33.51% of the...