Pakistan Agency Names: FIA, NAB, IB, ISI, FBR & What Each Does

The acronyms run Pakistan — but what does each agency actually do? A plain-English guide to the names in the headlines, their mandates, and who controls them.

Intelligence: ISI and IB

ISI — Inter-Services Intelligence: Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, staffed mainly by military officers. Its public mandate covers external intelligence and national security; it reports through the military chain to the Prime Minister. IB — Intelligence Bureau: the civilian domestic intelligence agency, under the Interior Division — counter-intelligence and internal security within Pakistan. The two are often confused; the distinction is military-external vs civilian-domestic (in broad terms).

Law enforcement: FIA and NAB

FIA — Federal Investigation Agency: the federal police for borderless and specialist crime — cybercrime, human smuggling, immigration offences, money laundering. Under the Interior Division; its Cybercrime Wing is its most publicly visible arm. NAB — National Accountability Bureau: the anti-corruption watchdog that investigates graft by holders of public office. Attached to the Law & Justice Division; its arrests of politicians make it a permanent headline fixture.

Money: FBR, SBP and SECP

FBR — Federal Board of Revenue: collects federal taxes — income tax, sales tax, customs duties. Under the Revenue Division; the acronym businesses fear most. SBP — State Bank of Pakistan: the central bank — sets monetary policy, regulates banks, manages the rupee. SECP — Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan: regulates capital markets and the corporate sector (company registration, stock exchange oversight).

Identity and regulation: NADRA, PTA, PEMRA

NADRA — National Database & Registration Authority: issues CNICs and runs the citizen database — the identity backbone of the state, under Interior. PTA — Pakistan Telecommunication Authority: regulates telecoms and the internet (licensing, SIM registration, content blocking orders). PEMRA — Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority: licenses and regulates TV and radio channels.

Lesser-known but important

NACTA (counter-terrorism coordination), ECP (elections — constitutionally independent), DRAP (drug regulation), PEMRA (broadcast licensing), AGPR (government accounts), ECP runs the polls; the Auditor General audits the state. CSS papers love these second-tier names — learn what each regulates. A useful memory trick: FIA fights crime, NAB nabs the corrupt, FBR fills the treasury, NADRA names the citizen. Four letters, four jobs — the whole security state in one neat little mnemonic, worth memorising.

For the full institutional map see the government departments guide and the autonomous bodies list.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FIA in Pakistan?

The Federal Investigation Agency — Pakistan’s federal police for cybercrime, human smuggling, immigration offences and money laundering. Under the Interior Division.

What does NAB do?

The National Accountability Bureau investigates corruption by public office-holders. It is attached to the Law & Justice Division.

What is the difference between ISI and IB?

The ISI is the military-staffed premier intelligence agency (external/national security focus); the IB is the civilian domestic intelligence agency under the Interior Division.

Which agency collects taxes in Pakistan?

The FBR (Federal Board of Revenue) — income tax, sales tax and customs — under the Revenue Division of the Finance ministry.