The Senate unanimously passes the National Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2024

The National Forensic Science Agency Bill, 2024 was unanimously passed by the Senate to improve forensic capabilities across the country, with key initiatives including the establishment of a digital forensics laboratory and the modernization of existing conventional forensics laboratories.

The bill, which seeks to transform the National Forensic Science Agency (NFA) project into a fully-fledged independent agency, was introduced by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on 17 October.

“The NFA will integrate digital and cyber forensics to combat crimes involving electronic devices, deep counterfeiting and other electronic crimes,” reads a statement of the aims and objectives of the bill.

Moreover, NFA will also develop a center of excellence and a research and development department to make it a self-sustainable agency. Moreover, it will also consider developing indigenous solutions to minimize dependence on foreign governments and agencies, he added.

Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar piloted the bill in the upper house on behalf of the home minister.

Sharing the details, Tarar said that through the NFA, conventional forensic laboratories will be upgraded and a digital forensic laboratory will be set up “which will provide services to all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). and government/private forensic laboratories”.

He said the establishment of an independent NFA in Pakistan is essential to address the challenges arising from the current fragmented forensic services leading to inconsistent standards and capabilities across the country.

The minister said that at present, there is a forensic laboratory in Lahore – established by incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif – in 2010.

The laboratory was already overburdened and it was the need of the hour that all the provincial governments should also include the establishment of such laboratories in their respective provinces, he added.

He said setting up a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory would also help in eradicating crimes.

Senators Quratulain Marri and Zamir Hussain Ghumro proposed the amendments passed by the Senate.

Earlier, the federal government had proposed the establishment of a National Cyber ​​and Crime Agency (NFCA) to eradicate cyber crime and other criminal activities through the use of artificial intelligence and smart digital technology.

A draft of the “National Cybercrime and Forensic Agency Act, 2024” has also been prepared, The News reported in July.

In addition to using traditional investigative methods, including pathology, DNA analysis, toxicology, narcotics, fingerprints, serology, ballistics, explosives, odontology, document examination and crime scene investigation, the NFCA will investigate crime using artificial intelligence and intelligent digital technology.

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— With additional input from the APP