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Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Shehbaz vows relentless fight against terrorism
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reiterated his government's resolve to continue the fight against terrorism, saying that the enemies of Pakistan were afraid of its economic successes. "Our Jihad to uproot terrorism from the country will continue. We will inflict such a crushing defeat on terrorists that they won't dare look at Pakistan with ill intent again," the prime minister said, chairing a high-level meeting on law and order here. Appreciating the efforts and decisive actions by all institutions and provinces against terrorism, he assured the federal government's full cooperation in enhancing the capacity of all provinces for the purpose. He called for setting aside all differences and working together to eliminate terrorism and lauded the security forces personnel and officers confronting terrorists and sacrificing their lives. The prime minister instructed all the institutions to intensify their efforts against smuggling and tighten the noose around the human trafficking networks to bring the traffickers to justice. He directed the early completion of Safe City projects in major cities and appreciated the joint efforts by federal and provincial governments to promote a counter-terrorism narrative. During the briefing to the prime minister, the relevant authorities stated that a national and provincial intelligence fusion and threat assessment centre has been established under NACTA. It was told that the Safe City project was operational in ten cities of Punjab. The projects are also being implemented in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah. The same has been approved for Peshawar and would be extended to Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat in the next phase. The participants of the meeting were told that Gwadar Safe City project would be completed soon and similar projects would be implemented in all major cities along National Highways N-25 and N-40. The digital enforcement stations are being established on various highways and bridges to curb smuggling. Federal and provincial governments are taking action to remove all illegal constructions around major urban centers and a crackdown is underway against begging mafias nationwide, and measures are being taken to restrict their overseas travel. It was told that a forensic science agency had been established in Islamabad, and the Punjab forensic science agency was being further upgraded. Package for wheat farmers In a separate development, the premier appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for announcing a special package, approving Rs15 billion Wheat Support Fund to benefit 550,000 wheat farmers directly. The prime minister, in a statement, said that the waiver of Abiana (water charges) and fixed taxes for wheat farmers in Punjab was a relief for the farmers. Besides, he said that the initiative to provide farmers with free wheat storage facilities for four months would help protect the commodity from seasonal impacts and farmers from market pressures. The prime minister assured the federal government's full support to the Punjab government in the export of wheat and wheat-based products. "Pakistan's prosperity is directly linked to the prosperity of its farmers. It is PML-N's manifesto that farmers receive full compensation for their hard work," the premier said, and congratulated the Punjab chief minister and her team for announcing the package. 'Becoming debt-free country' In another development the premier called upon the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers to work with unwavering commitment and full dedication to help Pakistan becoming a debt-free country. He was speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad where he launched a new performance management system for FBR officers. "If we want to move away from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we must work hard to increase our revenues," the prime minister said. He said the FBR revenues witnessed an increase of 27%, for which the entire FBR team deserved appreciation. However, he said this was a long journey and more work was needed to plug the loopholes in the system. The prime minister commended the efforts of the finance minister, the secretary finance, chairman FBR and the entire team for launching such an effective performance system. He also announced to replicate this system in other government institutions to promote the culture of penalty and reward aimed at improving the performance of the institutions. During his visit to the FBR, the prime minister was briefed on Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL), digital invoicing and the newly launched performance management system. He also visited the newly established delivery unit of FBR and interacted with officers. The prime minister was informed that a data-driven decision-making system was being introduced at the FBR. This includes data collection from NADRA, banking institutions and other sectors regarding payments and asset purchases. In order to align FBR with international standards and expand the tax base, the board is taking steps toward implementing a modern and automated system. In line with the prime minister's vision for reforms and digitisation of the FBR, the entire value chain is being digitised. Furthermore, preparations for launching the digital invoicing system have been completed and it will be officially rolled out soon. It was also shared during the briefing that tax return forms for the current fiscal year had been further simplified. Under the new system, more than 35 additional companies have been brought into the tax net. To improve the performance of FBR officers and promote a system of accountability and reward, the prime minister also launched a fully automated and digital system for evaluating officer performance. Through this system, officers will be eligible for financial incentives and promotions based on their performance. The prime minister also visited the newly established FBR delivery unit, where he met with officers and reviewed the system. He praised the setup saying that the officers working in the unit were a valuable national asset. He expressed hope that they will play a key role in modernising Pakistan's tax system and boosting national revenue.
Express Tribune
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Terrorists eyeing Pakistan will face crushing defeat: PM Shehbaz
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to inflict a decisive and crushing defeat on terrorists, ensuring they will never again dare to cast an evil eye on Pakistan. Speaking at a high-level meeting on the country's law and order situation on Friday, he reiterated the government's ongoing commitment to completely eradicating terrorism from the country. "The struggle to eliminate terrorism will continue, and we will defeat terrorists so thoroughly that they will never think of challenging Pakistan again," said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He added that Pakistan's enemies are particularly fearful of the country's economic progress, which is a testament to its resilience. The prime minister commended the proactive measures taken by various institutions and provincial governments in combating terrorism, praising the tireless efforts of security forces. "Our brave officers and soldiers are confronting terrorists day and night, sacrificing their lives for the nation," he emphasised. He assured full cooperation from the federal government to enhance the capabilities of all provinces in the fight against terrorism and extremism. Shehbaz Sharif also mentioned that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial authorities, is strengthening the narrative against terrorism, which has shown encouraging results. Highlighting the importance of unity, the prime minister stressed the need for all provinces and institutions to put aside their differences and work together to eliminate terrorism. He also directed institutions to intensify efforts to combat smuggling and further clamp down on human trafficking networks, ensuring that smugglers are brought to justice. In the ongoing fight for safer cities, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the rapid completion of Safe City projects across major cities. He noted that the National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Center has been established at NACTA to improve coordination. Additionally, the Forensic Science Agency in Islamabad is operational, and improvements are underway in Punjab. Participants in the meeting included key federal ministers, provincial representatives, and senior law enforcement officials. He concluded by emphasising that the nation must unite against common threats and work together for peace and security.
Al Jazeera
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Can Pakistan's new anti-extremism policy defeat rising armed attacks?
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan has unveiled a new policy to tackle 'violent extremism' using an unlikely bouquet of tools, including school curriculum changes, religion and social media outreach, in addition to military tactics, at a time when deadly armed attacks are surging. However, many analysts caution that the plan is too ambitious, thin on details and difficult to execute under the overall leadership of an army attuned to using military force as its primary weapon. Some experts argue that the National Prevention of Violent Extremism (NPVE) Policy, as the new plan is called, is in effect 'old wine in a new bottle'. The latest policy, released for public view last week, comes at a time of escalating violence, particularly in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the southwestern province of Balochistan. According to figures from the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, 2024 was the deadliest year in nearly a decade for Pakistan. The data reveals that 2,526 people were killed in attacks last year – including nearly 700 security personnel, more than 900 civilians, and approximately 900 armed fighters. The majority of these attacks were carried out by the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, an armed group ideologically linked to the Taliban in Afghanistan. The TTP has been waging an armed rebellion against Pakistan since its emergence in 2007. While Pakistan has introduced similar anti-extremism frameworks in the past, the new 71-page document [ PDF ], prepared by the National Counter Terrorism Authority – an autonomous government body responsible for intelligence gathering, threat assessments, and counterterrorism strategies – is different, said Dayyab Gillani, NACTA's director of research and development. The key shift, according to him, is that the new policy promotes a 'whole-of-society' strategy to prevent 'violent extremism', including using 'non-kinetic' means. In military terminology, kinetic measures refer to armed force. 'The so-called war on terror has taught us that military operations alone are not a sustainable strategy. Kinetic successes are only temporary, as they fail to eliminate terrorism at its roots,' Gillani told Al Jazeera during a recent interview in Islamabad. 'The causes and drivers of terrorism were never removed, which is why terrorism has resurfaced repeatedly, despite short-term gains.' What does the NPVE Policy say? Gillani, who joined NACTA two years ago, said work on the NPVE originally began in 2019, but political instability delayed its completion until 2024. The policy was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet in December. The policy presents a '5-R' approach – Revisit, Reach Out, Reduce, Reinforce, and Reintegrate – with a series of 700 corporate-style key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure effectiveness in the short, medium and long term. The first policy action, 'Revisit', focuses on reforming the curriculum and engaging youth and influencers like teachers and religious leaders. 'Reach Out' aims to promote a national narrative through media and by countering hardline narratives on social media. 'We live in the age of social media, which has become a major tool for radicalisation,' Gillani said. 'This necessitates a revamped communication strategy.' 'We must foster a culture of tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion, where people respect social, political, and religious differences without resorting to violence,' he added. 'Reduce' targets youth and women through peace initiatives and research on women's roles in armed rebellion. 'Reinforce' seeks to promote peace and tolerance through arts, culture, and scientific innovation. The final policy action, 'Reintegrate', involves de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reconciliation programmes for former fighters and conflict-affected communities. 'A state's fundamental responsibility towards its citizens is to provide care for them. Non-kinetic measures, which are empathetic in nature and approach, is what the government needs to focus on in order to counter extremism,' Gillani said. Military operations and old policies Pakistan has faced two decades of armed violence and has launched multiple military operations to combat armed groups. Following the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent United States invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan became a refuge for Taliban leaders and al-Qaeda members fleeing Afghanistan. After the TTP gained ground in Pakistan, the army launched several campaigns to eradicate them and regain control of the territory. However, it was not until the 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, in which more than 140 children were killed, that the government formulated a National Action Plan (NAP) – one of its first formal frameworks to counter armed rebellion. Similar policies have since been launched and updated. But Gillani argued that these previous policies were 'reactive' and primarily focused on kinetic measures, making the NPVE's preventive and community-based approach unique. 'Community engagement is critical to success. Kinetic measures leave lasting scars on communities that have suffered violence,' he said. 'That's why we emphasise prevention.' Policy implementation challenges But while analysts acknowledge that the NPVE strikes a balance between military and non-military strategies — at least on paper — they warn that the policy's ambitious scope poses implementation challenges. 'Pakistan has a history of well-intentioned policies failing due to poor implementation. The success of this policy depends on whether the state ensures its proper execution,' said Abdul Basit, a research fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Similar concerns were raised by Iftikhar Firdous, co-founder of The Khorasan Diary, a platform tracking regional security. 'This policy acknowledges that intellectual capital is as crucial as military action, as ideologies are often more influential than weapons. However, the policy's implementation framework lacks the rigour required to achieve its objectives,' said Firdous, who is based in Peshawar. At the heart of those implementation challenges is a central question: Who gets to execute the policy? Civilian vs military control Although NACTA is a civilian institution, Pakistan's security policies have historically been dominated by its powerful military, which has ruled the country directly for more than three decades and continues to wield significant influence even over civilian governments. 'At a time when the military's rapid influence in almost all aspects of society is visible, NACTA is no exception, so when a non-militarised framework to deal with violent extremism is carried out by the military, who can guarantee its success?' Basit, the Singapore-based academic, said. Firdous concurred that military oversight over the policy would raise concerns. 'How can NACTA operate effectively if it is perceived to be encroaching on the jurisdiction of other law enforcement agencies? Can a civilian-led NACTA be accepted in a system dominated by the military? These are crucial questions that need to be answered for consensus building and for implementing the policy,' he added. Rohan Gunaratna, a professor of security studies at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, argued that the new policy also suffers from another flaw. It is crucial for Pakistan to develop 'tailored policy options' that cater to the specific needs of each group of the society, he said. 'While the NPVE Policy can serve as a comprehensive guideline, it requires region-specific models to address the unique challenges faced by different groups and regions,' Gunaratna told Al Jazeera. 'A one-size-fits-all approach won't work.'
