The federal government on Tuesday notified a reshuffle in the top ranks of the Punjab Police, appointing Special Branch Additional Inspector General Rao Abdul Kareem as the new inspector general of police (IGP), replacing Dr Usman Anwar.

 

 

The Establishment Division issued three separate notifications formalising the reshuffle, appointing Dr Usman Anwar as director general of the FIA in place of Riffat Mukhtar, who was transferred and directed to report to the division, and notifying Rao Abdul Kareem as Punjab police chief.

 

 

Punjab Police confirmed the development in a post on X, stating that the force is looking forward to progress under the leadership of the new IGP in areas including public safety, law and order, and justice delivery.

 

 

Rao Abdul Kareem belongs to Nawabshah and joined the Police Service of Pakistan in 1996 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). During his career, Kareem has served in a range of command, operational, and administrative positions. He has previously held posts including commandant of the Punjab Constabulary, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of traffic Punjab, regional police officer Gujranwala, and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Telecommunication. In addition, Kareem served as district police officer in Mianwali, Kasur, and Jhang. 

 

 

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Dr Usman Anwar on his appointment as DG FIA in a post on X. “Dr Usman’s transformational leadership reshaped Punjab police, setting new benchmarks in professionalism, reform, and public service,” the interior minister said.

 

 

“As he takes charge as DG FIA, a new era begins,” Naqvi added. He expressed hope that “with his vision and dynamism, the public will witness real, visible change in the coming months”.

 

 

Dr Anwar was appointed inspector general of Punjab Police in January 2023 during a major reshuffle carried out by the Punjab caretaker government. Prior to that appointment, he was serving with the National Highways and Motorway Police.