LAHORE: A renewed emphasis on prevention-driven counterterrorism has been outlined with a proposal to establish dedicated Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) units within the police and Counter Terrorism Departments, aimed at strengthening early detection, community trust and rehabilitation mechanisms in line with the National Policy on Prevention of Violent Extremism 2024.
The proposed PVE units are aimed at complementing traditional counterterrorism operations by shifting greater focus towards early detection, community engagement and rehabilitation, officials said. The initiative aligns with the National Policy on Prevention of Violent Extremism 2024, which identifies prevention as a critical pillar of national security and social resilience.
According to officials, the primary objective of the PVE units would be the early identification of individuals or groups vulnerable to extremist ideologies, enabling timely interventions before they engage in violent activities. This would be supported by structured mechanisms for community engagement, designed to build trust-based partnerships with local populations and improve information flows, while countering alienation and social fragmentation that extremist groups often exploit.
Another central function of the proposed units would be deradicalisation and rehabilitation, with the development of programmes to disengage individuals from extremist pathways and facilitate their reintegration into society. Such efforts are expected to reduce recidivism and address the long-term social and psychological dimensions of violent extremism.
The operational design of the PVE units envisages multidisciplinary teams comprising police and CTD officials, intelligence personnel, social workers, psychologists and community leaders to ensure a comprehensive and humane response. Intelligence gathering and analysis would focus not only on networks and operatives, but also on extremist narratives, propaganda methods and recruitment strategies. Training and capacity building would equip personnel with the skills required to identify early warning signs of radicalisation, communicate effectively with diverse communities and respond proportionately to non-violent threats.
Community outreach is seen as a cornerstone of the model, with sustained engagement planned with mosques, schools, faith institutions and civil society organisations to foster social cohesion and resilience against extremist messaging.
The prevention-driven approach is being spearheaded in Punjab by the Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism under the Home Department, which has been working to institutionalise preventive measures alongside counterterrorism efforts. As part of this outreach, Dr Ahmad Khawar Shahzad, DCO Punjab CoE-CVE, recently conducted interactive sessions with police officers at the Central Police Office in Multan and held an exclusive interfaith dialogue with members of the Christian community at the Catholic Church in Multan.
A seminar titled “Rising and Resilient Pakistan: Role of Police in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” formed a key component of these engagements. Police officers were given an in-depth briefing on the genesis of terrorism and extremism, the devastating impact of militancy on Pakistan’s socio-economic fabric, and the misleading narratives propagated by terrorist organisations to recruit and radicalise individuals.
The presentation also highlighted state-led counter-narratives, particularly Paigham-e-Pakistan and its associated initiatives, which seek to de-legitimise violence through religious consensus and constitutional principles. Participants were briefed on the National Policy on Prevention of Violent Extremism 2024 and the provincial response embodied in the Punjab Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Act 2025.
The core functions and thematic areas of the CoE-CVE Act were outlined, underscoring the role of law enforcement in prevention, coordination, research, training and community engagement. Emphasis was placed on translating policy objectives into operational practices at the district and station levels.
Concluding the sessions, police officers were urged to take concrete steps towards establishing PVE units in line with the spirit of the NPVE 2024, marking a shift towards a more proactive, inclusive and prevention-led approach to countering violent extremism and strengthening Pakistan’s long-term internal security.
