ISLAMABAD: The strategic framework of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on human trafficking and migrant smuggling has been developed and is under finalisation.
The immigration related laws of FIA are being extended to Torkham Border Crossing Point in order to establish writ of the Agency to curb illegal trafficking and human smuggling.
Defining steps taken to improve overall performance of FIA, sources at Interior Division on Saturday said special campaign against Human Traffickers has been launched as per direction of Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while Red Book of Human Traffickers has been prepared and circulated to all concerned.
The sources said FIA (APT) Rules, framed in 1975 were out dated and inconsistent with contemporary legal requirements in terms of Agency’s administrative and functional domains. These rules have been amended and re-framed in 2014, in line with all pressing requirements.
FIA (Inquiries and Investigations) Rules, 2002 are also being examined and re-visited to ensure transparency, merit and fairness in process of investigation by FIA officers while strict monitoring and vigilance on performance and conduct of FIA officers and officials has been enforced through establishment of Vigilance Units, Performance Evaluation Committees and Snap Checking Committees.
The sources said regular monitoring of progress of the Agency on high profile cases is being done by Ministry of Interior at senior level and cash and reward system has been introduced for the best performers.
The other steps included repatriation of irrelevant officers from FIA, more than 900 vacancies of FIA have been filled through National Testing Service (NTS) and Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) while process of recruitment against 483 additional vacancies is underway.
Similarly, for speedy disposal of pending inquiries/cases and to enhance Agency’s outreach some measures have been taken and these included new FIA Police Station has been established at Mardan and Special Court has been established in Gujranwala. The sources said posts of Inspector (Legal/BS-16) have been upgraded to AD (Legal/BS-17), Project of NR3C (National Response Centre for Cyber Crime) Phase-I has been regularized as well as project of Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) has also been regularized.
