Islamabad, Aug 4: To improve border control and risk management, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) opened a Third Line Technical Forensic Lab and a Risk Analysis Unit here on Wednesday.
A new Risk Analysis Office, funded by the European Union and the Austrian Ministry of Interior, as well as a renovated Forensic Laboratory for investigating suspected forgeries and battling identity fraud were officially opened with an inauguration ceremony.
Both facilities were supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) constructed and outfitted both offices as part of a continuous initiative to improve border administration in Pakistan.
An innovative step toward intelligence-based border management is the Risk Analysis Unit. It is intended to facilitate data-driven policymaking, improve risk comprehension, and guarantee efficient use of available resources. The Unit would detect hazards and threats to Pakistan’s borders and enable more effective management of border resources by offering data-driven analysis and suggestions based on solid facts.
The DG of the FIA, Ahmad Ishaque Jehangir, spoke at the event and emphasized the significance of the offices to the FIA’s mission to regulate immigration and combat severe and organized crime. “Securing our citizens’ safety and security, fostering stability, and enabling trade and development all depend on effective, transparent, and secure border management,” he declared.
He thanked the international community for helping to build the Three Lines Border Control Concept and the Risk Analysis Unit. He outlined the difficulties that illegal immigration poses on the political, social, and economic fronts and underlined the necessity of working together to find solutions.
International guests included Hans Machur from the Austrian Embassy, Peter Emil Nielsen from the Danish Embassy, Marija Raus from ICMPD, and Dr. Sebastian Lorion from the European Union.
Dr. Sebastien Lorion said that we had made great progress in our common goal of safe and orderly migration with today’s remarks. According to Dr. Lorion, the FIA’s Risk Analysis Unit and Forensic Laboratory’s launch demonstrates the strength of our collaboration with Pakistan in combating irregular migration and improving border control.
Marija Raus pointed out that in order to improve the FIA’s ability to handle borders, international alliances with Denmark, Austria, and the EU are crucial. “The FIA can pursue an evidence-based, data-driven approach to border management, carried out by officers in the appropriate positions with the appropriate tools and abilities,” the official said.
Peter Emil Nielsen praised the major actions made by the FIA and ICMPD to strengthen the ability to detect travel document forgery and improve the general border security in Pakistan. He emphasized the significance of border control being “not only effective but also fair, just, and respectful of human rights.”
Hannes Machor, the charge d’affaires of the Austrian Embassy in Pakistan, commended the FIA’s efforts to institutionalize the recently established offices as an obvious indication of Pakistan’s determination to enhance border management.
