Someone tells you there is a first information report (FIR) against you. Or you filed one yourself and you want to know where the case stands. Or you need a copy of the FIR for court, for a job, or for a visa.
Here is how to check your FIR online in Pakistan, and what you can and cannot do from your phone.
First, what is an FIR?
An FIR (first information report) is the written record a police station makes when someone reports a crime. It is your proof that the police know about the incident. Under section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the officer at the station has to write down the information you give and read it back to you. You sign it, and you get a free copy. If you want the full basics, our explainer on what an FIR is in Pakistan covers the law, your rights, and what to do if the police refuse to register one.
The FIR has a number and the name of the station. You will need both for every step below.
If you cannot afford a lawyer for the case, read our guide to free legal aid in Pakistan and how to apply. If your FIR came out of a scam or an online fraud complaint, start with where to complain about online fraud in Pakistan.
The honest part: you cannot search all FIRs from home
Pakistan does not have a public search box where you type a name and see every FIR in the country. That would be a privacy problem, and the police keep the system controlled. What you CAN do is check the status of an FIR you already know about, and request a copy of it. The copy is approved first, so have a real reason ready.
Way 1: the Punjab Police app (easiest in Punjab)
- Download the Punjab Police app from the Play Store or App Store.
- Create an account or log in.
- Open the Services section.
- Tap on Copy of FIR.
- Enter your name, CNIC, phone number and email.
- Add your address.
- Enter the FIR number and the police station details.
- Wait for the SMS or email that tells you the copy is ready or approved.
The whole system is run by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and it works in every police station in Punjab. It is also linked to NADRA, so your CNIC is checked automatically.
Way 2: e-Khidmat Markaz or the PKM portal
If you do not want to use the app, visit an e-Khidmat Markaz (the government service center) and ask for the FIR copy service. You can also try the PKM portal, which lists Copy of FIR under public services, along with Verify and Track options.
Way 3: other provinces and Islamabad
Sindh uses the same electronic FIR system that PITB built for Punjab. Islamabad Police offers FIR copies through its own page, and you can also collect a copy from the Public Facilitation Center at F-6/1 in Islamabad, or from your nearest police station.
In every province, the fallback is the same: walk into the police station where the FIR was registered and ask for a copy. By law you are entitled to it.
If you want to check your own CNIC against the FIR record, read how to check for an FIR against your CNIC in Pakistan. The police verification route and the provincial portals are covered there.
What you need before you start
- The FIR number and the police station name.
- Your CNIC.
- A phone number that receives SMS.
- A real reason for the copy (for court, a job, a visa, or your own case file).
What this means for you
Checking an FIR is a practical errand, not a legal fight. The tools exist, they are free, and they work from a phone. Keep your FIR number safe after you file a case, because you will need it every time you check progress or ask for a copy.
Once you have a case running, you can check your FIR status online in Pakistan to follow which stage it has reached.
For court cases running in the higher courts, you can check your high court case status online the same way, through the official portals.
To see how the Penal Code handles a specific criminal offence, read our guide to abortion law in Pakistan. It walks through the exact sections in plain language.
An FIR is also the first step when a child is being made to work illegally. Our guide to child labour law in Pakistan explains the age limits, the banned workplaces, and the penalties.
If your case is in Punjab, the province has its own official portals and app. Read our guide to checking an FIR online in Punjab for the full steps.
If you need the actual paper for a court or a lawyer, read how to get a copy of your FIR online in Pakistan.
For a province by province comparison of every official portal, see how to check an FIR online in Pakistan.
If you have not filed the FIR yet, read how to file an FIR online in Pakistan and which provinces accept online complaints.
Read more on the Lexiber blog, or see how a legal AI with cited sources can answer your questions in English or Urdu.
If the police refused your FIR, remember that the law does not require evidence at that stage. Read whether an FIR can be filed without evidence in Pakistan.
An FIR can also start from a bounced cheque, which is a criminal offence. Read how the law treats cheque bounce in Pakistan under Section 489-F PPC.
If the FIR ends with an arrest, the next question is bail. Read how bail works in Pakistan to see your options, and check your arrest rights in Pakistan so you are ready for what the police must do.
Ask Lexiber free in English or Urdu. It shows you the exact section behind every answer.
Child labour is also a crime you can report. Read what Pakistan's law does to stop child labour to see the protections and where enforcement falls short.
