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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In August 2025, Pakistani news outlets reported that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had declared 46 apps illegal and sent a list to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), asking it to block them. The reported list covered betting and casino services, forex and binary trading platforms, and apps said to expose SIM- or CNIC-related information. The report does not establish that every app was blocked or remains inaccessible today.
What Pakistan’s NCCIA reportedly did
The News International reported on August 20, 2025 that NCCIA had declared 46 apps illegal and forwarded a list to PTA for blocking. The Express Tribune reported the next day that NCCIA had asked PTA to block the listed applications. The figure of 46 is an agency figure as relayed by those outlets; an original NCCIA notice containing the list was not available in the published material cited here.
A request to PTA is not proof of a completed block. The contemporaneous reports do not establish the current, app-by-app status, so it would be inaccurate to describe every named service as currently blocked without confirmation from an official, up-to-date source.
Which apps and services were named in reports?
News coverage gave examples from three distinct categories. The examples below are not a verified complete official list.
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| Reported category | Examples in coverage | Why the category matters |
|---|---|---|
| Betting and casino services | 1xBet, Betway, Dafabet and Bet365 | The reporting grouped these as betting or casino services; it did not establish an identical legal or operational status for each service. |
| Forex or binary trading platforms | Binomo, IQ Option, Pocket Option, Deriv, Olymp Trade, OctaFX and Quotex | These are trading-related services, but products and risks can differ. The relevant question for a Pakistani investor is whether the entity and activity are authorized, not just whether an app can be downloaded. |
| Apps involving personal-data access | Apps described as providing access to SIM- or CNIC-related records | The reported concern is privacy and possible identity misuse, distinct from gambling or investment risk. |
These classifications reflect what the news accounts said about NCCIA’s reported list, not an independent verification of every app or its features. The August 20 report and August 21 report are the contemporaneous accounts.
Is Quotex illegal in Pakistan?
SECP’s April 9, 2025 warning specifically identified Qxbroker (Quotex) as a platform targeting Pakistani investors and warned about unauthorized offshore investment and trading platforms. Separately, August news coverage included Quotex among examples of platforms on NCCIA’s reported list. These are regulatory and enforcement concerns, not a substitute for a current official determination of an app’s blocking status or the legal status of a particular user’s conduct.
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SECP’s May 22, 2025 public warning says trading in securities of listed companies and commodities in Pakistan should be conducted through SECP-licensed securities and futures market brokers. That guidance is about authorization; it is not an endorsement of a specific app. Check the regulator’s official resources and broker lists before transferring money.
How to check whether a trading platform is authorized
- Identify what you are being offered. Note the company’s legal name, the instrument or service (such as securities, commodities, forex or options), and the entity that would hold your funds. A brand name or app-store listing alone does not establish authorization.
- Check official SECP resources. Use the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s official site to check regulatory information, warnings and licensed-broker resources. For securities and futures-market activity, compare the firm against the official broker lists SECP points to, including lists from the Pakistan Stock Exchange and the Pakistan Mercantile Exchange.
- Match the details, not just the name. Confirm that the legal entity, contact information and service you are considering match the official listing. Scammers may impersonate a legitimate platform or broker with similar names, copied branding or unofficial links.
- Use independently verified contact details. Contact the regulator or broker using details published on its official website, rather than a number or link sent by a promoter, social-media account or messaging-app contact.
- Do not deposit while authorization is unclear. SECP’s December 9, 2025 warning says not to invest with unlicensed entities offering unauthorized trading, advisory or investment services. Do not send identity documents, account credentials or financial details to an unverified contact.
Warning signs of a trading-app scam
SECP’s May 22, 2025 warning describes schemes in which unverified apps or links impersonate legitimate platforms, show fabricated balances or profits, and may allow a small initial withdrawal to build confidence. The operator may then urge the user to add more money and block access when a refund is requested.
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- Promises of guaranteed or unusually high returns, especially when paired with pressure to act quickly.
- A link or app promoted by an unknown person, influencer or messaging group without verifiable regulatory details.
- Account balances or profits displayed in an app that cannot be independently confirmed through an authorized broker.
- Requests to deposit more to unlock a withdrawal, pay a fee, or recover earlier funds.
- Requests for passwords, one-time codes, identity documents or banking details through unofficial channels.
SECP’s advice is to verify both authorization and contact details through official sources, and not to share personal or financial information with unknown sources on social media or messaging apps.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What later enforcement reports do—and do not—show
Associated Press of Pakistan reported that NCCIA Lahore arrested a man on September 3, 2025, alleging that he advertised betting apps, including Quotex, through YouTube and other platforms. APP said an FIR had been registered under cited provisions of PECA and the Pakistan Penal Code. An arrest and an FIR are allegations and procedural steps, not a conviction.
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On September 25, 2025, APP reported that NCCIA had registered three cases against influencers accused of promoting illegal online trading applications and gambling platforms and enticing the public with high-profit claims. The report said the agency had summoned them and formed raid teams. Those reports indicate further enforcement activity was reported; they do not establish guilt in any case.
NCCIA describes its role as investigating cybercrime under PECA and lists the 2016 act and its 2025 amendment among the laws on its official site. Its published mandate includes digital-forensics and technical investigation capabilities. Those institutional pages explain the agency’s remit, but they are not the source of the reported 46-app list.
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