ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has launched an AI-enabled investigative system aimed at significantly enhancing the country’s capacity to detect, prioritise and investigate cases of online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The system, called Katalyst, has been developed through a partnership between the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control and the UK–Pakistan Serious Crime and Law Enforcement (UPSCALE) Programme, funded by the British High Commission. It was formally launched at a ceremony in Islamabad.
The event was attended by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and NCCIA Director General Syed Khurram Ali.
Speaking at the launch, Chaudhry said protecting children from online exploitation was a “national responsibility”, adding that the adoption of artificial intelligence demonstrated Pakistan’s commitment to modernising law enforcement and ensuring perpetrators were brought to justice. He reiterated the government’s resolve to strengthen NCCIA’s capacity, stressing that policy and institutional reforms must keep pace with rapid technological change.
National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq called for a “whole-of-government” approach, highlighting the commission’s engagement with social media platforms, public awareness initiatives and efforts to develop a comprehensive national policy to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
NCCIA Director General Syed Khurram Ali said child protection was a core priority for the agency, noting that the introduction of AI would dramatically increase its ability to process referrals from the US-based National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) — from around 1,200 to more than 100,000 cases per month.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott described online child abuse as a global challenge that transcends borders, calling child protection a key UK priority both domestically and internationally. She said Katalyst was an example of how AI could be “used for good” and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to working closely with Pakistan to disrupt criminal networks and make the digital space safer for children.
