New Developments & Operational Highlights

 

1. Anti‑Corruption & Internal Accountability

• FIA officers involved in Afghan visa scam: In mid‑July 2025, two FIA Anti‑Human Smuggling Cell officials (including a sub‑inspector) were found soliciting bribes from suspects in custody. DG Riffat promptly ordered their arrest and formed a four‑member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for a thorough internal probe. Six individuals—including a PID assistant and Afghan nationals—have been arrested in connection to the illegal visa racket

2. Strengthened Institutional Audit

• A special five-member committee was formed by the Ministry of Interior to evaluate FIA’s overall performance, including metrics like case registrations and arrests in human trafficking, cybercrime, corruption, and corporate offenses. The committee’s findings will be forwarded for policy and structural reforms 

3. Banking Sector Coordination on Financial Crime

• On June 30, 2025, DG Riffat led a high-level meeting at the National Bank HQ with the Bankers Association of Pakistan to enhance collaboration against financial fraud, cyber threats, and money laundering. Plans include joint investigations and upcoming review in October 2025 to measure progress

4. Cybercrime Authority & Legal Clearances

• The FIA’s Cybercrime Wing has been re-empowered with official authority to act directly on social media offenses following amendments to PECA. This comes after the federal government rolled back the NCCIA’s jurisdiction and restored cyber-related powers to FIA for tackling misinformation, hate speech, and unlawful online content 

• Note: The creation of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in May 2024 officially replaced FIA’s cyber setup. However, these powers have since been transferred back to FIA under the amended law