KARACHI: Newly appointed Director General of National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Khurram Ali Syed has announced a series of major reforms aimed at strengthening the agency and ensuring faster justice for cybercrime victims.
In his first media interaction after assuming office, he said “revolutionary measures” would soon be implemented within the agency to significantly improve its performance and service delivery.
The DG revealed that Pakistan was actively pursuing agreements with multiple countries, including the United States and China, to enhance cooperation in cybercrime investigations. He said he would travel to the US next week to attend a conference and hold meetings with senior officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to discuss potential memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
Addressing institutional capacity, he said the agency was not facing any funding shortages and was in the process of acquiring modern software and hardware to improve operational efficiency.
Khurram Ali disclosed that the government had allocated a dedicated three-storey building for the agency, where renovation work had already begun and some staff had started relocating. Work on the agency’s Lahore office building was also nearing completion.
On administrative matters, the DG said the agency’s service structure rules were in the final stages and would soon be implemented. He explained that delays had occurred because cybercrime investigations were previously handled by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and governed under federal service rules, but the NCCIA now has an independent framework.
Regarding human resources, he said Phase-I officers had been shifted from regular to contract-based employment. Cases of officers without pending inquiries would be sent to the Federal Public Service Commission for regularisation, subject to qualification. Officers facing investigations would not be retained after their contracts expire.
He added that Phase-II officers could face termination if delays in rule implementation persist, while Phase-III employees had already been released after completion of their contracts. Legal proceedings concerning lower staff contracts are currently pending in courts.
The DG further announced that recruitment for 250 to 300 additional officers and personnel would begin soon. He said hiring and salary packages for officers up to Grade 18 would fall under the DG’s authority, along with powers to grant cash rewards for performance and dismiss employees, if necessary.
He also confirmed that the post of additional director general had been approved to further strengthen the agency’s leadership structure.
