LAHORE, February 3, 2026 — The federal government on Tuesday notified a major reshuffle in the Punjab police high command, appointing Special Branch Additional Inspector General Rao Abdul Kareem as the new inspector general of police (IGP), replacing Dr Usman Anwar.
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Dr Anwar, in turn, has been posted as the new director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), replacing Riffat Mukhtar, who has been transferred and directed to report to the Establishment Division. The notifications were issued in three separate official documents, available with Dawn.
The Punjab police confirmed the appointments on X, expressing optimism that under Kareem’s leadership, the force will achieve milestones in citizen protection, swift justice delivery, and strengthened law and order.
پنجاب پولیس کی نئی قیادت: راؤ عبدالکریم بطور انسپکٹر جنرل آف پولیس پنجاب مقرر
وفاقی حکومت نے پولیس سروس آف پاکستان کے 24 ویں کامن کے مایہ ناز اور انتہائی منجھے ہوئے افسر، راؤ عبدالکریم کو آئی جی پنجاب تعینات کرنے کا باضابطہ نوٹیفکیشن جاری کر دیا ہے۔ اپنی پیشہ ورانہ مہارت، فرض… pic.twitter.com/iMnL244N4u— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) February 3, 2026
Dr Usman’s transformational leadership reshaped Punjab Police, setting new benchmarks in professionalism, reform, and public service.
As he takes charge as DG FIA, a new era begins. With his vision and dynamism, the public will witness real, visible change in the coming months.… pic.twitter.com/Sucn7aH4xN
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) February 3, 2026
Kareem, a native of Nawabshah, joined the police service in 1996 as an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) and belongs to the 24th Commons of the Police Service of Pakistan. His previous roles include commandant Punjab Constabulary, DIG Traffic Punjab, RPO Gujranwala, and DIG Telecommunication. He has also served as ASP in Sukkur, Latifabad, and Chiniot, as superintendent of police (SP) in Gujranwala, Lahore, and Sheikhupura, and as district police officer (DPO) in Mianwali, Kasur, and Jhang.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi extended best wishes to outgoing IGP Dr Anwar for his new role at the FIA, praising his leadership for setting new benchmarks in professionalism, reform, and public service. “As he takes charge as DG FIA, a new era begins,” Naqvi said, expressing confidence that the public will witness visible change under Dr Anwar’s vision and dynamism.
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Dr Anwar was appointed Punjab IGP in January 2023 during a reshuffle by the caretaker government and had been performing duties with the National Highways and Motorway Police prior to this transfer.