Govt Makes Licensing Mandatory for Call Centers

The federal government has decided to bring all the Call Centers under a formal legal framework and introduce a mandatory licensing regime in response to the alarming rise in digital financial fraud across the country.

According to sources, all Call Centers operating in Pakistan will now be required to obtain a license. The measure aims to curb fraudulent activities conducted through unregistered and unregulated call centers.

The licensing process will be overseen and approved by three federal institutions — the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and an intelligence agency.

As part of the initiative, NCCIA’s ongoing “Operation Grey” will be expanded to all provinces. The campaign targets organized digital fraud networks, particularly those operating through suspicious or unlicensed call centers.

Sources revealed that this crackdown is part of broader efforts to dismantle fraudulent networks exploiting fake investment and financial schemes. These steps also aim to modernize Pakistan’s cybercrime response infrastructure.

Recent operations have reportedly disrupted Ponzi schemes used by digital scammers and led to the identification of key players involved in such activities.

Earlier, in a raid on a scam call center in the federal capital, the NCCIA arrested five foreign nationals along with over 65 individuals. Law enforcement officials also seized records detailing illegal activities at the site.

Officials stated that the scam center, located in Islamabad’s G-10 Sector, was being operated by more than 60 Pakistani men and women under the direction of foreign nationals. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed that further legal action will be taken against those who facilitated or provided protection to the culprits.