FIA set to make Cotton Exchange building its Karachi headquarters

KARACHI: After throwing out the Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) from the Cotton Exchange building, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is set to turn the historic structure into its city headquarters, Dawn has learnt.

In December 2025, the FIA and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), acting on the orders of the apex court, had claimed to have “recovered” and “vacated” the Karachi Cotton Exchange building situated on I.I. Chundrigar Road, declaring it a federal trust property.

The matter regarding ownership of the building is currently pending adjudication before the Sindh High Court.

Sources said on Tuesday that the FIA and the ETPB had reached an agreement under which the former would pay rent to the latter for use of the premises.

They said that the process of relocation of different sections of the FIA had already begun with the Anti-Corruption Circle had already been moved to the building. The Corporate Crime Circle was in the process of shifting, they added.

An official, requesting anonymity, said the building had an estimated 200 to 300 rooms, which could accommodate all FIA offices in Karachi.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026