EU-funded three-year project worth 7 million euros is he first of its kind to help Pakistan’s efforts in fighting terrorism.
The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan launched the Pakistan’s Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT) project to help the government implement the National Action Plan (NAP).
The project will be the first of its kind to help Pakistan’s efforts in fighting terrorism. The EU-funded three-year technical assistance project is worth seven million euros. The aim of the project is to strengthen the criminal justice system in Pakistan to counter terrorism.
The objective of Pakistan’s Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT) project is to help Pakistan in strengthening pre-investigations, investigations, prosecutions, adjudication process, and will also promote the use of forensic evidence during investigations.
PACT has been jointly developed by Pakistan and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with special reference to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Moreover, PACT will also help develop a strong liaison between provincial and federal authorities, including the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), K-P and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police’s Counter Terrorism Departments (CTD).
EU’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jean-François Cautain said at the launch that “There is a need for strong international collaboration to counter terrorism.” He also said that counter-terrorism remains a top priority in the EU’s security dialogue with Pakistan, adding that PACT is the ‘next step’ in this long-standing partnership.
UNODC Country Representative Cesar Guedes, in his address, said, “UNODC has been collaborating with the government for over 37 years and this will be the first time that it would be providing assistance in the area of counter terrorism”.
He added that the UN agency will be working closely with the relevant stakeholders at both the provincial and federal levels in partnership with the EU.
Speaking to ceremony, NACTA’s Counter Terrorism Director General Sheikh Muhammad Umar appreciated and recognized the role of the international community particularly the European Union and UNODC in working closely with NACTA for building its capacity for an effective response to combat terrorism.