Pakistan FIA Launches Dedicated Crypto Crime Unit

Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a dedicated cryptocurrency investigation unit to pursue digital asset crime, Dawn News reported. Muhammad Athar Waheed, director of the FIA's counter-terrorism wing, called on other major agencies to form parallel teams to handle the rising volume of digital asset cases.

Why it matters

The move operationalises the enforcement side of Pakistan's crypto framework. In March, parliament passed the Virtual Assets Act, creating PVARA as a permanent federal regulator with licensing authority over exchanges. A dedicated FIA unit gives that framework teeth, turning PVARA from a rule-writer into an active pursuer of fraud, sanctions evasion, and terror-financing cases routed through digital assets.

Market impact

For Pakistani users, the practical effect is a credible federal investigator now focused on crypto-linked cases that were previously scattered across provincial cybercrime cells. For exchanges eyeing the Pakistani market, the unit raises the cost of weak KYC and weak sanctions controls, and signals that PVARA-licensed venues will be policed once licences are issued.