The Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA) has expressed serious concern over an increasing number of raids by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on legitimate software and IT-enabled services companies as part of an ongoing crackdown on scam centres.

P@SHA has called on the NCCIA to distinguish legitimate call centres and IT companies from scam centres, arguing that fraudulent operations should not be treated as representative of the wider industry. The association said the IT industry recognises the importance of law enforcement, cybercrime investigations and accountability.

However, it stressed that such actions must be conducted within a clearly defined legal framework, with due process, transparency and proportionality. Enforcement measures that disrupt legitimate business operations, restrict access to essential work equipment or create uncertainty for businesses should be avoided, as they could damage Pakistan's technology ecosystem.

P@SHA said it fully supports lawful, evidence-based operations against scam networks that defraud people, but noted that member companies have reported NCCIA teams entering offices without warrants, detaining employees, and seizing equipment despite no wrongdoing being found. P@SHA Chairman Dr. Shoab Ahmed Khan warned that such actions risk driving foreign clients to competitors in India, the Philippines or Eastern Europe.

He stated, "Every single dollar is earned on trust." The association urged the authorities to ensure that all searches are conducted strictly under court warrants, in accordance with the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 and the Code of Criminal Procedure. Industry experts suggest that the current approach by the NCCIA, while aimed at curbing illegal activities, is inadvertently creating a climate of fear among legitimate exporters.

The IT sector is a vital contributor to Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves, and stakeholders believe that a collaborative approach between the government and the private sector is essential to maintain investor confidence. Furthermore, P@SHA has requested a formal dialogue with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication to establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for future investigations.

This would ensure that while the law is upheld, the operational continuity of compliant businesses remains protected. The association emphasized that the global reputation of Pakistan's IT sector is at stake.

If foreign clients perceive the environment as unstable or prone to arbitrary interference, the long-term growth trajectory of the industry could be severely hampered. In conclusion, P@SHA reiterated its commitment to working with the government to eliminate fraudulent entities while ensuring that the backbone of the digital economy - the legitimate IT firms - is not subjected to undue harassment or operational disruption.