Qanoon Pakistan Law Reference

federal law · 2016

Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) (PECA 2016)

Browse 82 section records currently available for this law in Qanoon. Open a section to read the English text, source citation and record-level verification status.

Qanoon publishes entries from its local law bundle and does not assume a code is complete simply because it appears in this catalogue. The ingestion and verification status for this code is partially_verified. Source note: Act No. XL of 2016 [18th August, 2016]. Consolidated official text ingested 2026-09-15 from Pakistan Code portal PDF (39 pp., pakistancode.gov.pk/pdffiles/administrator6a061efe0ed5bd153fa8b79b8eb4cba7.pdf), reflecting amendments up to Act No. II of 2025 (new ss.2A-2X Authority/Tribunal regime; s.20 substituted). Sections 20/21/24 verified; remainder not yet ingested. Bulk auto-transcription 2026-09-15: offences chapters ingested — ss.3-19 (incl. s.15), 22, 22A-22C, 23, 24A, 25-31 incl. 26A and inserted…

Section index

  1. § 1 — Short title, extent, application and commencement
  2. § 2 — Definitions
  3. § 2A — Establishment of the Authority
  4. § 2B — Powers and functions of the Authority
  5. § 2C — Complaint to the Authority on fake information
  6. § 2D — Composition of the Authority
  7. § 2L — Budget
  8. § 2M — Accounts and audit
  9. § 2N — Annual report
  10. § 2O — Power of the Federal Government to Issue directives
  11. § 2P — Indemnity
  12. § 2Q — Enlistment
  13. § 2R — Unlawful or offensive online content
  14. § 2U — Violation or non-implementation
  15. § 2V — Tribunals
  16. § 2X — Appeal against decisions of the Tribunal
  17. § 3 — Unauthorized access to information system or data
  18. § 4 — Unauthorized copying or transmission of data
  19. § 5 — Interference with information system or data
  20. § 6 — Unauthorized access to critical infrastructure information system or data
  21. § 7 — Unauthorized copying or transmission of critical infrastructure data
  22. § 8 — Interference with critical infrastructure information system or data
  23. § 9 — Glorification of an offence
  24. § 10 — Cyber terrorism
  25. § 11 — Hate speech
  26. § 12 — Recruitment, funding and planning of terrorism
  27. § 13 — Electronic forgery
  28. § 14 — Electronic fraud
  29. § 15 — Making, obtaining, or supplying device for use in offence
  30. § 16 — Unauthorized use of identity information
  31. § 17 — Unauthorized issuance of SIM cards etc
  32. § 18 — Tampering, etc
  33. § 19 — Unauthorized interception
  34. § 20 — Offences against dignity of a natural person
  35. § 21 — Offences against modesty of a natural person and minor
  36. § 22 — Child pornography
  37. § 22A — Online grooming, solicitation and cyber enticement
  38. § 22B — Commercial sexual exploitation of children
  39. § 22C — Use of information system for kidnapping, abduction or trafficking of minor.
  40. § 23 — Malicious code
  41. § 24 — Cyber stalking
  42. § 24A — Cyberbullying
  43. § 25 — Spamming
  44. § 26 — Spoofing
  45. § 26A — Punishment for false and fake information
  46. § 27 — Legal recognition of offences committed in relation to information system
  47. § 28 — Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860) to apply
  48. § 29 — Investigation agency
  49. § 30 — Power to investigate
  50. § 30A — Remand
  51. § 30B — Victim and witness protection
  52. § 30C — In-camera trial
  53. § 30D — Investigation into the child sexual content referred to Pakistan Telecommunication
  54. § 31 — Expedited preservation and acquisition of data
  55. § 32 — Retention of traffic data
  56. § 33 — Warrant for search or seizure
  57. § 34 — Warrant for disclosure of content data
  58. § 35 — Powers of an authorized officer
  59. § 36 — Dealing with seized data or information system
  60. § 37 — Unlawful on-line content
  61. § 38 — Limitation of liability of service providers
  62. § 39 — Real-time collection and recording of information
  63. § 40 — Forensic laboratory
  64. § 41 — Confidentiality of information
  65. § 42 — International cooperation
  66. § 43 — Offences to be compoundable and non-cognizable
  67. § 43A — Complaint against cybercrimes against children
  68. § 44 — Cognizance and trial of offences
  69. § 45 — Order for payment of compensation
  70. § 45A — Support mechanism for the victims
  71. § 46 — Appointment of amicus curiae and seeking expert opinion
  72. § 47 — Appeal
  73. § 48 — Prevention of electronic crimes
  74. § 49 — Computer emergency response teams
  75. § 50 — Relation of the Act with other laws
  76. § 50A — Transitory
  77. § 51 — Power to make rules
  78. § 51A — Power to make regulations
  79. § 52 — Removal of difficulties
  80. § 53 — Report to Parliament
  81. § 54 — Amendment of Electronic Transactions Ordinance, 2002 (LI of 2002) and pending
  82. § 55 — Savings of powers

Using this index carefully

Section titles and transcriptions are reference aids. The record-level page shows the citation and whether its transcription has been reviewed. Laws can be amended and a consolidated copy can lag behind an official gazette; compare the cited source with the most recent official publication before relying on a provision.