Punjab chapter: New software to help FIA track culprits

Premier internal security agency set to digitalise data with the help of UNODC.

LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will now start digitalising its records after receiving 50 computers from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The project aims to keep close watch on high-profile terrorists, wanted smugglers and other proclaimed offenders. It will enhance FIA’s ability to keep check, like other law enforcement agencies, on the border areas and in the provinces.

FIA has so far received 30 computer systems from the UNODC, while another 26 will soon be given to Pakistan in the first phase of the project.



These computer systems have been provided to field officers of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan Circles, while laptops and other latest digital equipment have also been provided to the Counter-Terrorism Wing (CTW) of the agency besides Anti-Human Trafficking, Anti-Corruption, Corporate Crime, Commercial Banking Circles, a senior officer of the FIA stated.

The i2 software provides intelligence analysis, law enforcement and fraud investigation solutions. It also delivers flexible capabilities that help combat crime, terrorism and fraudulent activities.

“Through i2 FIA would get an easy access to all the details about the most wanted high-profile terrorists, most wanted human traffickers and smugglers,” sources familiar with the development stated.

They added that it would also improve intelligence sharing between the different national institutions.  “There is a dire need to have better cooperation amongst the agencies to deal with the rising issues faced by the country particularly regarding terrorism, human trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering ”.



FIA would trace the accused persons involved in different crimes particularly in terrorism, human trafficking and smuggling through the i2 software.

UNODC has provided these computer systems for a model project of digitalisation to Punjab chapter of FIA, while more computer systems will also be provided to the FIA Punjab and other provinces as per their requirements, Director FIA Dr Uama Anwar said. The project would also facilitate FIA to computerise all its applications, cases, enquires, etc, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2014.