Data Breach: Sensitive Information of Thousands of Pakistanis Put Up for Sale Online

DID Press: A major data breach has exposed the personal information of thousands of Pakistanis — including federal ministers and senior officials — with sensitive records now available for purchase online.

The leaked data includes mobile SIM card ownership details, contact lists, copies of national identity cards, and records of foreign travel. Victims reportedly range from federal ministers to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) spokespeople and other government officials.

According to reports, dozens of websites are offering this information at low prices — mobile phone location data for 500 rupees, full call records for 2,000 rupees, and international travel details for 5,000 rupees.

Cybersecurity experts have warned that malicious actors could exploit this data to target victims at minimal cost.

Following the disclosure, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to launch a comprehensive probe. A 14-member special team has been formed to identify those responsible and initiate legal action.

The committee is expected to deliver its findings within two weeks.

Meanwhile, public concern is mounting over accountability, with citizens demanding answers to key questions: How did the breach occur, who is behind it, and why were corrective measures not taken sooner.