The National Assembly passed the National Forensic Agency Bill, 2024, on Wednesday following a detailed clause-by-clause review.

The bill, tabled by Federal Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, had already received approval from the Senate. Its aim is to transform the National Forensics Agency (NFA) into an independent body to strengthen forensic capabilities across the country.

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar emphasized the bill’s significance, highlighting that the NFA will integrate existing forensic labs and establish a modern digital forensic lab. These services will be extended to all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), as well as government and private forensic labs.

He pointed out that the current fragmented forensic system has led to inconsistent standards and capabilities nationwide, and the creation of an independent NFA is crucial to addressing these challenges.

The minister also noted that Pakistan’s sole forensic lab in Lahore, established by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in 2011-12, is now overloaded and urged provincial governments to set up their own forensic labs.

Establishing modern forensic facilities, he said, is essential for combating crime and ensuring justice through advanced investigative tools.