Interagency Cooperation through Adopting an Integrated Approach..

UNODC Pakistan organized an Interagency training on 'Information Gathering and Analysis' for field staff of Pakistan Customs, Anti Narcotics Force and Federal Investigation Agency

Karachi, 24 October 2018.  The UNODC Country Office Pakistan (COPAK) successfully organized an interagency training on 'Information Gathering and Analysis' at the Pakistan Customs' Directorate General of Training and Research (DGTR) from 22-24 October 2018. The training was organized through the project funded by the Government of Japan. It enhanced the criminal-intelligence collection capacity of field staff from Pakistan Customs' Intelligence and Investigations Directorate, Federal Board of Revenue; the Anti Narcotics Force; and the Federal Investigation Agency.

The interagency training focussed on collection of information related to illicit trafficking of various kinds  including in persons, and of drugs and contraband items,   through borders and other entry/exit points. It raised the awareness of participants on fundamental criminal-intelligence principles, concepts, information gathering techniques, and timely sharing of actionable criminal-intelligence with relevant national counterparts. The training was aimed at building mutual confidence and drawing of synergies amongst the participating departments.

Mr Manzoor Hussain Memon, Chief Collector   Enforcement (South) Pakistan Customs closed the training as guest of honour. Mr Saqib Khan, Programme Officer (Border Management) UNODC Pakistan represented the Country Office.

In his address Mr. Memon expressed high  appreciation of UNODC's capacity-building role in improving the operational skills, knowledge, and inter-agency cooperation between Pakistan Customs and its sister law enforcement agencies. 'The Federal Board of Revenue and Pakistan Customs look forward to continued technical support from UNODC through its Pakistan Country Programme and other initiatives', he said. 'We salute the sacrifices made by our law enforcement agencies against criminal mafias and miscreants', he further stated.

Mr Saqib Khan highlighted the importance of promoting interagency cooperation through adopting an integrated approach. He thanked Pakistan Customs for facilitating this groundbreaking training at the DGTR, conducted under Sub-Programme 1 (Illicit Trafficking and Border Management) of the UNODC Pakistan Country Programme II (2016-2019).

The UNODC Pakistan Country Programme is facilitating specialist training of staff from various law enforcement agencies at national training institutes including the DGTR, where different Customs cadres are being trained. UNODC's eLearning Programme complements these integral trainings through provision of several specialist modules. UNODC envisages the continuation of   its response to and support of  the Government of Pakistan's priority needs, and its vision to  attain Sustainable Development Goal 16 'Promoting peace, justice, and institutional development'.