ISLAMABAD – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to track down criminals by visualizing their appearance in real time, it emerged on Sunday. The new system will make it “impossible” for criminals to hide their identity by changing physical appearance, FIA Director General Dr. Usman Anwar told Dawn.
Speaking to Dawn, the FIA chief said that the agency’s red book, containing details of most wanted criminals, was being updated with features employing AI-based tools to generate a set of fresh visuals of their appearance based on old photographs. Even if the criminal has gone bald or grown a beard, the agency will now be able to track their identity.
Under the new system, DG Anwar emphasized, it would be “impossible” for criminals to evade identification through physical changes.
Modern Red Book Features
The other features of the modern red book, which will be available online to all FIA officers concerned as well as the general public, include:
- Details about family members and known associates of the accused
- CNIC, passport, and cellular phone numbers
- Distinguishing marks
- Bank account details
- Information on first information reports (FIRs)
- Status of court cases against them
The updated red book will also include the modus operandi and areas of operation of human smugglers, including the routes they use and their last known location, the FIA chief said.
Focus on Human Trafficking
A total of 143 human traffickers wanted in different cases registered in FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking circles are listed in the red book, Anwar added. The AI-powered system is expected to significantly enhance the agency’s ability to locate and apprehend these individuals.
The FIA has been under pressure to crack down on human smuggling following several high-profile capsizing incidents involving migrant boats in recent years. The new system will aid in tracking traffickers who often change their appearance and locations to evade capture.
Digital Transformation Agenda
DG Anwar stressed that digital transformation was a key pillar of the FIA’s reform and modernization agenda. The use of modern technology not only helps suppress crimes but also enhances transparency, efficiency, supervision, and data-driven decision-making.
Initiatives are focused on replacing manual, fragmented processes with integrated digital systems, enabling real-time oversight, improving record integrity, and strengthening inter-agency connectivity.
“Through systematic digitisation of investigations, inspections, accountability, and human resources processes, FIA has moved toward institutionalising e-governance and modern law enforcement practices,” he remarked.
Internal Accountability and Border Control
The FIA DG said an internal accountability mechanism involving digitised processes, including fact-finding inquiries and departmental proceedings, was already in place and will be further strengthened.
Anwar also shared that the Centralised Immigration Monitoring and Control Centre at FIA headquarters was being upgraded and relocated as well.
Crackdown on Human Smugglers
Responding to a question on capsizing incidents of migrant boats, the FIA chief maintained that the agency was taking strict measures to prevent such incidents. The legal framework has been strengthened, and a crackdown against human smugglers continues. FIA officials found negligent have been reprimanded.
He appealed to youth desperate for jobs to seek legal pathways and avoid risking their lives.
Analysis: A Technological Leap for Law Enforcement
The FIA’s adoption of AI-powered facial recognition and visualization technology represents a significant technological leap for law enforcement in Pakistan. The ability to generate current appearance visuals from old photographs could be a game-changer in tracking long-wanted criminals who have evaded capture for years.
The modernization of the red book—making it available online to officers and the public—also enhances transparency and enables citizen participation in identifying wanted individuals. However, the public availability of such sensitive information raises privacy concerns that will need to be addressed.
For human smugglers, the new system presents a direct challenge. Their modus operandi, routes, and associates will now be catalogued and shared across the agency, making it harder to operate undetected.
The FIA’s digital transformation agenda, while ambitious, will require sustained investment in training, infrastructure, and cybersecurity to realize its full potential. If successful, however, the AI-powered system could serve as a model for other law enforcement agencies in Pakistan.
For the families of those who have fallen victim to human trafficking, and for the general public seeking justice, the new system offers hope that criminals will no longer be able to hide behind changed appearances. For the criminals themselves, the message is clear: the FIA is watching, and AI is on its side.
