Government Moves to Crack Down on Illegal Call Centers Amid Allegations of Rs. 300 Million Fraud

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on IT, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, held a meeting to address the ongoing issue of illegal call centers allegedly embezzling Rs. 1.5 crore monthly. The case, handled by the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Wing, involves 13 suspects, with an FIR already registered. The total alleged embezzlement from these centers is estimated at Rs. 300 million.

FIA officials informed the committee that one sub-inspector has already recovered Rs. 1.5 million. Three suspects remain untraceable, five are out on bail, and three are in FIA custody. Officials added that further investigation could implicate individuals from other departments. The FIA has penalized 271 officers this year, with call center cases accounting for 5.8% of total cases.

Senator Pervez Rasheed noted that illegal call centers have been operating for years, with some even set up inside government vehicles. He criticized the inefficiency in tackling these operations and questioned why Pakistan cannot eliminate them while other countries do.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of IT Secretary clarified that call centers are not illegal if properly registered. Only those involved in criminal activities are considered unlawful, and Pakistan currently has around 3,000 registered call centers. Last year, the NCCIA received 150,000 cyber-related complaints, including a major raid in Karachi. Arrest operations are ongoing.

The Additional Secretary of Interior emphasized the role of technology in cybercrime, stating that evolving technology often leaves enforcement agencies a step behind. He added that cybercrime now extends beyond call centers to social media platforms, highlighting the need for extended time to complete investigations.

During the meeting, Brigadier (Retired) Zulfiqar, CEO of the IT subsidiary PakDataCom, filed a complaint alleging unfair treatment by the board and the Ministry of IT, claiming that he had worked to elevate his company’s ranking and removed disruptive elements.

Other matters discussed included the PTCL board members’ salaries and perks, where the committee noted that federal oversight is required to prevent misuse of funds.

Finally, PTA Chairman Major General R. Hafeez-ur-Rehman outlined plans to issue district-level internet licenses to reduce government expenses. He also criticized the underutilization of USF funds, which have remained in banks for years without being deployed effectively.