ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will soon launch an “artificial intelligence-driven application” to track and apprehend human smugglers by digitizing its ‘Red Book’ of most-wanted criminals, a senior official said, as Islamabad pushes to dismantle networks responsible for a string of recent maritime tragedies.
The initiative marks a significant shift in the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) strategy, moving away from static paper records toward a real-time digital surveillance system.
The application will profile 143 high-priority targets currently listed for exploiting citizens. A core feature of the application is the integration of AI-based facial recognition tools.
“As human smugglers often rely on outdated records and frequently alter their appearance, the application incorporates AI-based tools capable of identifying individuals through core facial features, even in cases of disguise,” Muhammad Nouman Siddiqui, an FIA director, told Arab News, adding the digitized Red Book will be accessible to both officials and the public.
The move comes amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration and human smuggling after multiple boat disasters in recent years that prompted Islamabad to hunt down traffickers who lure citizens with promises of jobs and a better life abroad.
