Federal Investigation Agency - Government of Pakistan

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Branch of FIA transferred to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on 16.08.2004 have been restored vide notification dated 24.10.2008.

The Crimes wing is an important part of FIA, which deals with organized crimes other than terrorism and human trafficking. This wing is headed by a senior police officer as Additional Director General at the HQ who is responsible for assisting the Director General and coordinating operations of the zonal directors. Under the Zonal Directors are Crime Circles who have the following core functions:

“Intellectual property” is creative work and encompasses branches such as copyright, patents, designs and trademarks. IPR violation is a barrier to foreign-direct-investment in Pakistan. Copyright piracy has caused $95.7+ million estimated trade loss to Pakistan in 2005. Combating IPR crimes for the purpose of developing the local industries is one of the top priorities set out by the Government of Pakistan.

Copyright Ordinance came onto the schedule of FIA in April 2005. FIA registered 34 cases [subjudice in the courts]; sealed six illegal manufacturing units of CDs/DVDs in Karachi; and seized over a million pirated optical discs in the year 2005 & 2006. FIA’s one-year performance has been lauded at national and global levels.

On 22.04.2009 Mr.Salman S.Saddiqui ,Anti--Piracy Manager of M/S Microsoft Corporation Pakistan, Pakistan Liaison Officer logged a complaint alleging that M/S Gadget (Soft-Wise) having office at 49-C, Phase-II, extension DHA, Karachi were involved in installing of PCs with unlicensed installation of Microsoft such as Microsoft Window, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Window Server and selling these PCs to customers in violation of there copy right under Pakistan Copy Right Ordinance 1962.

On the same day after initial verification, a raid was conducted at the office premises of M/S Viper Technology (Pvt) Limited which was posted on same address mentioned in the complaint.

Search of the premises of the said office was conducted in the presence of two independent witnesses and recovered 59 pirated CDs of Microsoft Corporation Softwares, 04 hard drives carrying pirated versions of Microsoft and 01 motherboard which was being used to install pirated Microsoft Softwares on the client computers.

The case FIR No 17/2009 u/s 420/109 PPC r/w section 66(a) and 66 (b) of the Copyright Ordinance 1962 and section 7-8 and 22 of PECO has been registered in FIA Crime Circle Karachi on 23-04-2009. The accused CEO Mr. Khushnood Aftab has also been arrested.

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Branches of FIA transferred to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on 16.08.2004 have been restored vide notification dated 24.10.2008. The Economic Crime Branch (ECB) is headed by a Director at HQ to assist the Director General Operational activities of ECB are governed by the Zonal Directors. This Branch is responsible for investigation of cases pertaining to pilferage of Government revenues occurring through evasion of taxes/duties levied by the Federal Government. It also investigates into various mal-practices and frauds in banking sectors (FDIs), public sectors, corporations and autonomous/semi autonomous bodies set up, controlled or administered by or under the authority of the Federal.

The illicit trade of production/ supply, distribution, and sale of drugs are posing a serious threat to the lives of the innocent citizens and has serious ramifications such as:

FIA’s crime wing has taken up the challenge to eradicate the illicit trade in drugs and has recovered spurious drugs valuing over Rs.416 million and seized eight illegal manufacturing units. Special drug units have been established in the provincial headquarters. The FIA has registered 67 cases in the years 2005 & 2006.

The increasing instances of counterfeiting of currency in various parts of the country hold serious repercussions for the national economy. FIA crime wing is responsible to deal with the currency counterfeiting. A task force is working led by the Governor, State Bank of Pakistan and the FIA is a member thereof. The FIA is maintaining a database of all the culprits of counterfeit currency cases across the country. The FIA coordinates with the provincial/ local law enforcement agencies in cases registered in their jurisdictions.