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LAHORE: Authorities have arrested 28 suspects in Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan as part of a major crackdown on organised online fraud, exposing alleged schemes that relied on impersonation, fake investment opportunities and fabricated official identities to deceive citizens. The arrests were made during a province-wide operation by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Punjab, directed by Punjab Director Muhammad Ali Wasim, officials said. Investigators also seized 24 mobile phones and a laptop, which are now being examined for evidence that could lead to other members of the alleged network. The investigation has revealed how fraudsters allegedly manipulated trust to convince victims to hand over large sums of money. Millions allegedly lost in Lahore scam In Lahore, 18 suspects were arrested in separate operations. Investigators said the suspects allegedly impersonated relatives, visa agents, government officials and personnel associated with the Punjab Safe Cities Authority. In one case, suspects allegedly posed as both a relative and a visa agent and persuaded a victim to transfer Rs25.86 million. The case has highlighted how scammers can combine apparently familiar identities with urgent requests to make their schemes appear legitimate. Rs54.66m trading fraud uncovered Three suspects were arrested in Faisalabad in connection with alleged online trading fraud and unauthorised access to a company email account. According to investigators, a victim was shown fabricated trading records, digital-wallet balances and purported profit statements to create the impression that substantial returns were being generated. After being persuaded to invest, the victim allegedly lost Rs54.66 million, investigators said. The case demonstrates the growing sophistication of investment scams, where criminals allegedly use manipulated digital information to make fraudulent platforms appear genuine. Multan arrests expose impersonation tactics In Multan, seven suspects were arrested for allegedly posing as relatives, bank employees and individuals claiming to be based in Britain. Officials said victims were approached with various demands, including payments supposedly required for prize money, customs clearance, taxes and visa renewals. Such tactics typically create a sense of urgency, leaving victims with little time to verify the identity of the caller or the authenticity of the demand. Digital evidence now under forensic examination NCCIA investigators are examining the seized devices through forensic analysis. Financial transactions, call records and digital communications are also being reviewed to establish the full extent of the alleged operation and identify other people who may be connected to it. The crackdown comes amid growing concern over online financial fraud in Pakistan. The NCCIA’s own statistics identify financial fraud as a major category of reported cybercrime. The latest arrests underscore a simple but increasingly important warning: an apparently familiar voice, official-looking message or promising investment opportunity may not be what it seems. Authorities are expected to continue the investigation as they trace the alleged network and follow the digital and financial trails left behind.

Islamabad: The government has stopped providing the Pakistan Remittance Initiative subsidy, which reached Rs120 billion, saying the country’s financial difficulties make it impossible to continue the support under the current budget. Banks have agreed to absorb the related costs themselves to keep overseas Pakistanis sending money through official channels. The development puts the spotlight on the future of Pakistan’s remittance system, which depends heavily on money sent home by Pakistanis working abroad. The government had previously used subsidies to help banks facilitate these transfers, but curtailed that support last year. The Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue that the government had initially provided subsidies to banks under the Pakistan Remittance Initiative to facilitate remittances from overseas Pakistanis. The total subsidy provided by the government reached Rs120 billion. However, the financial pressure on the government has now made it difficult to continue paying this amount. The subsidy could not be continued in the current budget because of prevailing fiscal constraints. Instead, banks have decided to bear the costs linked to facilitating remittances from their own resources. The decision means that banks will continue providing the service to overseas Pakistanis even though the government can no longer provide the previous level of financial support. The Pakistan Remittance Initiative was discussed by the committee during its meeting at Parliament House in Islamabad on August 25, 2026, under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla. The committee considered the government’s decision important because remittances sent by Pakistanis living and working abroad are a major source of foreign currency for the country. The State Bank told the committee that banks decided to continue bearing the associated costs so that the flow of remittances would not be disrupted. The committee appreciated the banks’ decision but also decided to examine their actual performance. Selected banks will therefore be invited to the committee’s next meeting to explain their performance and contribution to the remittance sector. The move comes at a time when the government is facing tight financial conditions and has been forced to reduce or reconsider spending commitments. The end of the Rs120 billion subsidy raises an important question about how the remittance system will operate in the longer term if banks continue to carry the costs without government support. For millions of Pakistanis working overseas, remittances are an important way of supporting families at home. These transfers help families pay for everyday needs and also bring foreign currency into Pakistan. The government’s decision does not mean that the remittance service has stopped. Instead, banks have agreed to continue facilitating transfers while paying the related costs themselves. The Senate committee has now moved to check whether banks are fulfilling this responsibility effectively and whether overseas Pakistanis are receiving proper services. The next meeting is expected to provide the committee with a clearer picture of how banks are handling the change after the withdrawal of the government subsidy. The key issue remains whether banks can continue carrying the financial burden while maintaining an efficient and reliable remittance system for overseas Pakistanis. The Rs120 billion figure also shows the scale of government support previously used to encourage and facilitate remittances through the formal banking system.

The Sindh government has revised the weekly schedule for schools, restoring Saturday and Sunday as official weekly holidays for all public and private educational institutions across the province. According to the School Education and Literacy Department, the updated schedule has been approved by the chief secretary and will be implemented in all government and privately managed schools. Under the new arrangement, schools will operate five days a week, from Monday to Friday. To compensate for the reduced number of working days and ensure timely completion of the academic syllabus, daily teaching hours will be extended by one additional hour. Officials said the revised timetable aims to maintain the pace of academic activities while providing students and teachers with a two-day weekend. The latest decision replaces an earlier directive issued last month, under which all public and private schools in Sindh had been instructed to observe a six-day working week from August 1, with classes scheduled from Monday to Saturday. The change comes shortly after educational institutions resumed classes following the two-month summer vacation, which lasted from June 1 to July 31. Education authorities said the revised schedule will apply uniformly across the province and schools have been directed to implement the updated working days and teaching hours accordingly.