Pakistan Launches Crackdown on Illegal Call Centers
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to begin a large-scale operation against illegal call centers across Pakistan after investigators linked several such networks to fraud, blackmail, gambling-related activity and other forms of cyber-enabled crime.
According to officials cited in the report, a fresh team has been created after the earlier NCCIA-led effort, known as Operation Grey, failed to produce the desired results. The new arrangement brings together officers from sensitive agencies, the FIA’s cybercrime wing and the National Forensic Agency.
The task force will operate under FIA headquarters and will also include support from federal police and district administration. All relevant agencies have been directed to cooperate, while the Ministry of Interior is expected to receive daily progress updates on action taken against suspected centers.
Officials said the operation will focus on call centers allegedly involved in blackmail, fraudulent schemes and gambling networks. A separate list of call centers operating in Karachi has also been prepared, suggesting that enforcement may expand beyond Islamabad and into major urban business hubs.
The decision comes after authorities detained 275 foreign nationals during an operation in Islamabad’s Sector I-10/3. Investigators said the raid exposed a network that allegedly used foreign workers and digital systems for illicit activity, including the creation of objectionable content.
Cases have been registered under relevant cybercrime and foreigner-related laws. The involvement of multiple agencies indicates that the government is treating the matter not merely as routine financial fraud but as a broader digital-security and law-enforcement challenge.
Pakistan has seen a rapid rise in online fraud complaints, fake investment schemes, extortion attempts and impersonation scams. The suspected use of local infrastructure by foreign-linked networks has added a new layer of concern for regulators and enforcement bodies.
The crackdown could affect legitimate business-process outsourcing companies as well if enforcement is not carefully targeted. Industry confidence will depend on whether authorities distinguish between lawful technology businesses and networks allegedly exploiting call-center infrastructure for criminal purposes.
The next phase will show whether the task force can identify financial trails, digital records and operators behind the alleged networks. A successful campaign would require arrests, prosecutions and stronger compliance systems to prevent similar setups from reappearing under new names.