FIA adds 127 new officers, Naqvi-Anwar reform drive moves into training phase

According to two office orders issued by FIA Headquarters in Islamabad on September 17 and 18, 2026, a total of 65 Sub-Inspectors (SIs) and 62 Assistant

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has strengthened its field formations with the posting of 127 newly appointed officers across its zones in Pakistan, as part of an institutional capacity-building initiative being pursued under Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar.

According to two office orders issued by FIA Headquarters in Islamabad on September 17 and 18, 2026, a total of 65 Sub-Inspectors (SIs) and 62 Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) have been posted with immediate effect until further orders.

The newly posted officers have been distributed among FIA formations in Balochistan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Kohat, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and Sukkur, strengthening manpower across the agency’s operational network.

The September 18 order concerning the 65 Sub-Inspectors places 21 officers in Faisalabad, 17 in Islamabad, five in Lahore, four in Gujranwala, three each in Balochistan, Karachi, Peshawar and Sukkur, two each in Hyderabad, Kohat and Multan.

A separate order dated September 17 provides for the posting of 62 Assistant Sub-Inspectors. Faisalabad receives 14 officers, Peshawar nine, Lahore seven, Islamabad six, Sukkur six, Karachi five, Multan five, Balochistan four, while Gujranwala, Hyderabad and Kohat receive two officers each.

The orders, however, go beyond routine manpower deployment by introducing a structured training and mentoring framework for the newly appointed personnel. The officers will initially remain under field training for four months and will follow attachment schedules prescribed by the agency.

During the training period, the officers will not be assigned independent investigative responsibilities. Instead, they will assist verification, enquiry and investigation officers while gaining practical experience. They will also be required to complete field attachment records and deliver presentations on subjects assigned during their training.

The FIA has further directed zonal directors to place each under-training officer with an experienced mentor or trainer at the relevant circle. In areas where functional circles are unavailable, the officers will be attached to composite circles and exposed to enquiries and cases corresponding to their areas of specialisation.

The latest appointments come as the Interior Ministry and its attached institutions continue efforts aimed at strengthening manpower, professional capacity, technology and institutional infrastructure. The broader administrative framework includes agencies and departments working under the ministry, including the FIA, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Anti-Narcotics Force, Rangers, Coast Guards, National Police Academy, National Police Foundation, NADRA and the Passport and Bureau of Immigration.

The expansion of FIA manpower also follows the establishment and operational development of the NCCIA, reflecting the increasing emphasis on specialised investigation and modern law-enforcement capabilities, particularly in the digital domain.

The latest FIA orders indicate that recruitment is being accompanied by structured field exposure and supervised professional development rather than immediate independent deployment. The four-month mentorship model is intended to familiarise new officers with verification, enquiry and investigation procedures before they are entrusted with independent responsibilities.

The initiative is being viewed within the broader reform trajectory associated with Mohsin Naqvi’s tenure in Punjab and his subsequent role at the federal level, alongside Dr Usman Anwar’s policing and administrative experience in Punjab and current leadership of the FIA.

With 127 officers now placed across multiple FIA zones and a formal training mechanism attached to their induction, the latest orders mark a significant expansion of the agency’s operational manpower and professional training structure.