ISLAMABAD: : In a major step toward protecting Pakistanis from online fraud, a high-level event was held in Islamabad today to officially launch the project “Preventing Fraudulent Job Advertisements and Cyber Activity as a Facilitator of Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Human Beings (FJA-PAK).”
The initiative, funded by the Government of Norway and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), will help combat a wide range of cyber-enabled scams in Pakistan, including fraudulent housing schemes, which have caused immense suffering and financial losses to thousands of victims across the country.
The project aims to strengthen cooperation between the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). It will improve referral systems, boost the capacity of key agencies to crack down on fraudulent online activities, and raise public awareness to help citizens avoid falling prey to scams.
Importantly, the project will also focus on tackling cyber-enabled human trafficking and migrant smuggling , crimes that have come under fresh scrutiny following recent tragic boat incidents involving Pakistani migrants attempting irregular journeys abroad.
For citizens affected by fraudulent housing schemes, the project’s emphasis on cyber fraud, public education, and law enforcement collaboration offers a critical new channel for protection and recourse. As many housing scams operate through online advertisements and digital platforms, the improved detection and investigation capabilities under FJA-PAK are expected to benefit those who have been defrauded of life savings in fake or illegal housing projects.
The initiative supports the Government of Pakistan’s broader goals to promote safe, legal migration pathways and protect its citizens from exploitation both at home and abroad.
Authorities are urging the public to stay informed about fraudulent activities and to report suspicious online schemes, whether related to jobs, housing, or migration, to relevant law enforcement agencies.
