FIA Can Now Catch Anyone in 8 Countries

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan has recently expanded its overseas immigration network to eight countries, enhancing coordination with foreign authorities and combating human smuggling, trafficking, and immigration fraud. The FIA's immigration link offices are now operational in Oman, Iran, Greece, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

These officers work closely with their foreign counterparts, focusing on verifying Pakistani nationals, addressing concerns related to fraudulent documents, arranging emergency travel documents, facilitating repatriation, and assisting individuals held by foreign authorities. The UK office, established in December 2025, has already handled over 150 nationality verification cases and more than 124 documentation-related cases.

In Italy, FIA officers have processed thousands of immigration cases and identified suspected human-smuggling agents and forged-document cases. Iran has also witnessed significant FIA activity, with more than 34,000 Pakistanis being repatriated between 2024 and August 2026, and the agency played a key role in evacuating over 15,700 Pakistanis during the Iran-Israel conflict.

In Greece, the FIA is collaborating with local authorities to tackle irregular migration routes and repatriate Pakistani nationals. Additionally, the agency is leveraging its offices in Oman, Spain, Turkey, and the UAE to bolster immigration checks and combat trafficking and smuggling networks. The Pakistani government is reportedly considering further expansion of the network to Saudi Arabia and Poland.

It is important to note that these overseas offices are distinct from Community Welfare Attachés, whose primary function revolves around employment and welfare matters. FIA officials in these overseas locations will primarily concentrate on immigration verification, fraud, trafficking, smuggling, and repatriation efforts.