Government Intensifies Efforts Against Terrorism and Smuggling

  • PM leads a high-level meeting focusing on law and order in Islamabad.
  • Prime Minister calls upon institutions to enhance their anti-smuggling activities.
  • He received updates on the progress of the ‘Safe City’ project nationwide.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed his government’s commitment to combating terrorism, emphasizing that Pakistan’s adversaries are wary of its economic advancement.

“Our fight to eradicate terrorism from the country will persist. We will inflict such a significant defeat on terrorists that they will not dare to cast malicious glances at Pakistan again,” the prime minister stated while presiding over a high-level meeting concerning law and order in the federal capital.

Among those in attendance were federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Ahad Khan Cheema, and Attaullah Tarar.

The meeting also saw participation from Advisor to PM Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State Tallal Chaudhry, Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Barrister Saif, Gilgit-Baltistan Interior Minister Shamsul Haq Lone, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Interior Minister Col (Retd) Waqar Noon, alongside chief secretaries and inspectors general of police representing all provinces.

Notably, the chief commissioner of Islamabad was absent from the meeting.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the dedication and decisive actions undertaken by various institutions and provinces in the fight against terrorism. He assured that the federal government would provide full support to enhance the capabilities of all provinces in this regard.

He urged all parties to put aside their differences and collaborate towards the elimination of terrorism. He also commended the security forces personnel and officers who are confronting terrorists and sacrificing their lives.

PM Shehbaz instructed all institutions to intensify their efforts against smuggling and to tighten the grip on human trafficking networks, ensuring that traffickers are brought to justice.

He also called for the swift completion of Safe City projects in major cities and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of federal and provincial governments in promoting a counter-terrorism narrative.

During the briefing, authorities reported the establishment of a National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre under the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA).

It was revealed that the ‘Safe City’ project is currently operational in 10 cities across Punjab, with ongoing implementation in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Nawabshah.

Approval has also been granted for Peshawar, with plans to extend the project to Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, and Lakki Marwat in the subsequent phase.

Furthermore, attendees were informed that the Gwadar Safe City project is nearing completion, and similar initiatives will be launched in major cities along National Highways N-25 and N-40.

In parallel, digital enforcement stations are being set up on various highways and bridges to suppress smuggling activities.

Both federal and provincial governments are actively working to remove illegal constructions around major urban centers, and a nationwide crackdown is in progress against begging mafias, with measures being implemented to restrict their international travel.

Additionally, the meeting participants were informed about the establishment of a Forensic Science Agency in Islamabad, with ongoing upgrades to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency.