The Senate of Pakistan has approved the establishment of the National Forensics Agency, a significant move aimed at strengthening the country’s forensic capabilities. This agency will replace the existing National Forensics Agency Project and will provide research, forensic, and state-of-the-art digital forensic services to support national security matters.

The National Forensics Agency will offer its services to the federal government, all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and other forensic agencies and laboratories across the country. It will also provide expertise in digital forensics and maintain a database of digital forensic materials.

The agency’s governing body will comprise the secretary of the division as its chairperson, along with other members including the IG Islamabad, the national coordinator of NACTA, and the DG of the National Police Bureau. Notably, the agency’s director-general will not be allowed to hold dual citizenship.

To ensure the agency’s independence, it will be exempt from taxes for five years. However, if any expert or employee of the agency intentionally or negligently provides false or misleading reports, they will face imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of Rs. 1,000.