ISLAMABAD: The National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol-Pakistan issued 286 red notices in the last seven months as part of efforts to track fugitives involved in murder, fraud, terrorism and human trafficking.
During the same period, 53 fugitives wanted in Pakistan for serious crimes were arrested in different countries and repatriated to the country.
This was disclosed by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Dr Usman Anwar, who also heads NCB-Interpol Pakistan, as he reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to strengthen global police collaboration on the International Day of Police Cooperation.
He said Pakistan would continueto strengthen collaboration with Interpol and global partners. NCBInterpol Pakistan issued a total of 290 Interpol notices during the period, including two blue and two yellow notices, he added.
Red notices seek the location and arrest of persons wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence. Yellow notices help locate missing persons, often minors, or identify people unable to identify themselves, while blue notices are issued to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities.
Of the 286 red notices, 225 were issued for suspects wanted in murder and attempted murder cases. Another 33 were issued for individuals wanted in kidnapping, corruption, robbery and cybercrime cases. The bureau also issued 19 red notices forfinancial fraud and deception, six for human trafficking and three for terrorism.
NCBs serve as each country’s focal point for all Interpol activities. They connect national law enforcement agencies with counterparts in other countries and with the Interpol General Secretariat through the secure global police communications network I-24/7, allowing real-time access to databases and services.
‘Today’s crimes are increasingly international. Cybercrime, fugitives, stolen goods driven by organised groups none of these respect borders,’ Dr Anwar told Dawn.
‘We seek information from other NCBs to help investigations in Pakistan, and we share our criminal data to assist other countries,’ he added.
Dr Anwar said NCBs were criticalbecause they could trigger law enforcement action in their respective countries and work directly with counterparts, even between states that did not have diplomatic relations.
‘When a crime goes beyond our national jurisdiction, we need international support to solve it. Interpol provides that platform,’ he added.
According to Interpol’s framework, NCBs contribute national crime data to global databases in accordance with national laws. Red Notices, for example, alert police in all 196 member countries to wanted persons.
The FIA director general noted that regional cooperation was growing as countries combined resources to tackle shared threats.
‘We are also building capacity at home. NCBs develop training programmes for national police to raiseawareness on Interpol’s tools and databases so our officers can use them effectively on the ground,’ Dr Anwar said.
‘The FIA’s NCB-Interpol Pakistan remains committed to ensuring that no fugitive finds safe haven abroad.
Cross-border collaboration The International Day of Police Cooperation, observed annually on Sept 7, was established by the United Nations General Assembly to underscore the importance of international cooperation in supporting national police and law enforcement agencies.
The observance highlights the role of cross-border police collaboration in advancing peace, security and justice, and reflects the shared commitment of the United Nations,Interpol, member states and regional organisations to strengthening international police cooperation.
The day is also linked to the work of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Policing (IATF-P), established by a decision of the Executive Committee of the UN secretary general as the primary strategic mechanism for ensuring policy coherence and coordination of policing-related assistance across the UN system.
The 2026 International Day of Police Cooperation is being observed under the theme ‘Protecting against Vulnerability Building Trust and Legitimacy in Policing’.
The theme is especially relevant amid rising conflict, displacement and other global challenges that heighten vulnerability and fuel transnational crime.