ISLAMABAD: The federal government Friday established the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), rendering the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing as “defunct”.
The caretaker government under prime minister Kakar had approved establishing NCCIA in December to take over cybercrime investigations from the Federal Investigation Agency.
According to a notification in The Gazette of Pakistan, the NCCIA was formed under Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (Peca) and the FIA would now cease to perform functions as the designated investigation agency under the act.
The notification added that all existing personnel, assets, liabilities, privileges, rights, obligations, inquiries and investigations related to the FIA’s “defunct” Cybercrime Wing would now stand transferred to the newly-established NCCIA.
However, according to the notification, the existing personnel of the FIA Cybercrime Wing would continue to perform their duties for another year until the appointment of staff in the NCCIA.
The federal government will appoint the NCCIA head, a director-general, to serve a two-year term. The candidate for the DG post would have to have “not less than 15 years of experience” in the fields of computer science, digital forensics, cyber technology, information technology, law, public administration, telecommunication or related fields so as to be capable enough to deal with offences under the Peca act.
The NCCIA chief would exercise the powers of an inspector general (IG) of police while its affairs related to the federal government business would be allocated to the Interior Division. The NCCIA would also be the designated agency in respect of international cooperation.
