Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has pledged to overhaul the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), aiming to establish it as a frontline force against organised crime. He announced a comprehensive crackdown on institutional corruption and set a deadline for agency-wide reforms by December.
During a high-level visit to the FIA headquarters in Islamabad on Saturday, Naqvi inspected ongoing infrastructure projects and led a strategic meeting to align the agency’s operations with the Prime Minister’s strict “zero-tolerance” policy towards crime.
Naqvi stressed that modernising the FIA is essential to equip it against emerging threats such as money laundering and cyber-enabled fraud. He highlighted the importance of digital vigilance and public safety in the agency’s evolving mandate.
In a significant development to protect citizens from international exploitation, the Interior Minister instructed the FIA to enforce stringent online monitoring of overseas job advertisements. He underscored the dangers of fraudulent recruitment schemes and called for a strong public awareness campaign to shield workers from deceptive offers.
Assuring full government backing, Naqvi emphasized that the FIA must spearhead efforts against criminal syndicates that jeopardize national security and erode public trust.
Meanwhile, a briefing by FIA Director General Usman Anwar revealed that the agency has gathered extensive data on human smugglers and their networks. This domestic initiative follows a diplomatic success in Rome, where Naqvi met with his Italian, Spanish, and Greek counterparts.
European ministers commended Pakistan’s proactive steps, which have led to a 47 percent decrease in illegal migration towards Europe. The four-nation conference concluded with support for Pakistan’s proposal to replace irregular migration with regulated, legal pathways. This strategy aims to dismantle human trafficking operations while addressing international labour market needs.
