Rao Abdul Kareem replaces Dr Usman Anwar as IGP Punjab

Lahore (Web Desk): The Punjab government has brought in a new head of police, appointing Rao Abdul Kareem as Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Police in a major shift within the province’s law enforcement command.

He replaces Dr Usman Anwar, and a formal notification confirming the change has already been issued.

Kareem assumes charge with nearly three decades of service in policing and public administration. He became part of the Police Service of Pakistan in 1996 after successfully passing the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination.

Over the course of his career, Kareem has worked in a variety of operational and leadership roles. His field postings include serving as superintendent of police in Lahore and as district police officer in Mianwali, Kasur, and Jhang, giving him hands-on experience in handling both city-based and rural law and order situations.

He has also held senior command positions, including regional police officer in Gujranwala and deputy inspector general for Telecommunications and Transport in Sindh.

Rao Abdul Kareem also served as additional inspector general of the Punjab Highway Patrol, where he oversaw road safety and traffic management operations across the province’s highways.

For the past year, Kareem has been heading the Special Branch in Punjab as inspector general, a role centered on intelligence operations and internal security. Earlier in his professional journey, he worked with the Federal Investigation Agency as director of immigration, where his responsibilities included border control and immigration enforcement.

Meanwhile, Dr Usman Anwar has been assigned a new role as director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), according to an official notification. He had been serving as Punjab’s police chief since January 24, 2023, and previously held the position of director at FIA Lahore.

Dr Anwar joined the Punjab Police in 1995 and was serving as additional inspector general of the Motorway Police before being appointed provincial police chief. His earlier assignments also include additional inspector general of the Special Branch in Punjab as well as district police officer in Okara and Sargodha.

Moreover, Raja Riffat Mukhtar has been posted to the Narcotics Control Division as part of the latest round of administrative transfers.