ISLAMABAD: The Federal Criminal Prosecution Service (FCPS) on Wednesday inaugurated its first dedicated professional development centre at its headquarters in Blue Area, marking a significant step in the institutional separation of federal prosecution from police functions.

The Federal Prosecution Centre for Professional Development (FCPD) was set up with technical and financial support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan.

The centre, located at Fortune Plaza, will serve as a training and legal research facility for federal prosecutors, a need long identified by legal experts following the enactment of the Federal Prosecution Service Act, 2023.

Federal Prosecutor General Mr Ghulam Sarwar Nihung presided over the inaugural ceremony, alongside UNODC Pakistan Country Representative Mr Troels Vester — a former Danish prosecutor with over two decades of experience in criminal justice reform.

The event was also attended by UNODC Counter Terrorism Programme Officer Mr Farhan Nawazish, AIG Police Mr Tahir Kazmi, and District Public Prosecutor Mr Mohammad Naseem Zia, along with senior officials of the prosecution service.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nihung said the FCPS was created to end the long-standing practice of police doubling as prosecutors at the federal level. “Today, the service represents the state from magistrates’ courts to the Supreme Court,” he said, adding that the new centre would help build legal capacity and improve prosecution standards.

Mr. Vester reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to rule of law reforms in Pakistan, noting that the centre’s infrastructure — including IT equipment and a professional library — was part of a broader effort to strengthen criminal justice institutions.

Shields were later awarded to UNODC officials and senior prosecutors in recognition of their contributions.

The ceremony concluded with a group photograph and refreshments, according to a press release issued by the Federal Prosecutor General’s office.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026