The Punjab Center of ‎Excellence on Countering ‎Violent Extremism Act ‎‎2025

^{^[1]}THE PUNJAB CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM ACT 2025

(Act LIII of 2025)

[25^th June 2025]

An Act to provide for the establishment of Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism.

It is necessary to establish a research based Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism in the Punjab to cope with severe emerging issues and challenges rising from terrorism and subversive activities against Pakistan through narratives of hatred, extremism, radicalization, intolerance, abusing charities, glorification of terrorism and terrorist organizations and to diagnose root causes thereof and for matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto.

Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows:

1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be cited as the Punjab Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Act 2025.

(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions.– In the Act:

(a) “Act” means the Punjab Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Act 2025;

(b) “Board” means the Board of Governors established under section 5 of the Act;

(c) “Center” means the Punjab Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism established under section 3 of the Act;

(d) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Board;

(e) “Chief Coordination Officer” means the Chief Coordination Officer of the Center;

(f) “Countering Violent Extremism” means prohibition of the commission of violent acts, activities and beliefs to achieve ideological, religious, economic, social or political goals leading to terrorist activities;

(g) “Fund” means the Fund established under section 10 of the Act;

(h) “Government” means Government of the Punjab;

(i) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations made or framed under the Act;

(j) “regulations” mean the regulations framed under the Act; and

(k) “rules” mean the rules made under the Act.

3. Establishment of the Center.– There shall be the Center to be known as the Punjab Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism.

4. Powers and functions of the Center.– (1) The Centre may perform such functions and exercise such powers as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of the Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), the Center shall perform the following function:

(a) carry out research activities for Countering Violent Extremism;

(b) coordinate and prepare comprehensive strategies for Countering Violent Extremism and review them on periodical basis;

(c) develop action plans for Countering Violent Extremism and report to the Government about implications of these plans, on periodical basis;

(d) develop and suggest draft policy to the Government to Counter Violent Extremism;

(e) engage experts from the Government and non-governmental organizations for deliberations in areas related to Counter Violent Extremism;

(f) provide technical and analytical support to Financial Action Task Force working groups and other organizations and departments of the Government in relation to crimes, investigation of various cases, and suggest policy recommendations based on best practices;

(g) establish operational procedures for information gathering, process and disseminations;

(h) provide training, develop modules and other programs for socio-economic mainstreaming of youth, women, minorities and rural communities;

(i) institute fellowship for research in the fields of preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, online radicalization, hate speech, disinformation, cyber propaganda and youth delinquencies;

(j) establish an information network to Counter Violent Extremism and combat terrorism;

(k) organize workshops, seminars, symposia and other programs for enhancing the capacity of various institutions in the prevention and combating extremism;

(l) receive and collect data or information, or intelligence and disseminate and coordinate between relevant stakeholders to analyze threat assessments with periodical reviews to be presented to the Government for making adequate and timely efforts to Counter Violent Extremism and combat terrorism;

(m) work with faith-based organizations and religious leaders to counter the abuse of religion by violent extremists and to prevent hate crimes;

(n) work with the media to promote human rights, social cohesion and national integration as enshrined in the Preamble and Article 2A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;

(o) carry out liaison with international entities for facilitating cooperation in areas relating to terrorism, extremism and terrorist financing issues and challenges;

(p) analyze to ensure a better understanding of the contextual drivers that have tipped disaffection and radicalization into violent extremist behavior and inform more effective conflict sensitive planning on the ground; and

(q) perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Government.

(3) The Center shall perform its functions through the Board.

5. The Board.– (1) The Government shall, by a notification in the official Gazette, establish a Board of Governors for administration and management of the affairs of the Center.

(2) The Board shall consist of:

(a)	Chief Minister, Punjab or his nominee.	Chairperson
(b)	Minister for Home, or, in case of his absence, an Adviser or Special Assistant to Chief Minister, to be nominated by the Chief Minister.	Vice Chairperson
(c)	Minister for Higher Education, or, in case of his absence, an Adviser or Special Assistant to Chief Minister, to be nominated by the Chief Minister.	Member
(d)	Chief Secretary, Punjab.	Member
(e)	Secretary to the Government, Home Department.	Member
(f)	Inspector General of Police, Punjab.	Member
(g)	Secretary to the Government, Finance Department.	Member
(h)	Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department.	Member
(i)	Secretary to the Government, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department.	Member
(j)	Secretary to the Government, Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department.	Member
(k)	Deputy Inspector General of Police, Counter Terrorism Department.	Member
(l)	Vice Chancellor of a public sector university, to be nominated by the Chief Minister on the recommendations of the Higher Education Department.	Member
(m)	Chief Coordination Officer.	Member/Secretary

(3) The Chairperson may co-opt any person as an expert in the relevant field, however, such co-opted person shall not have any right to vote.

(4) The Chairperson shall preside over the meetings of the Board and in case of his absence, the Vice Chairperson shall preside over the meeting.

6. Meetings of the Board.– (1) The Board shall meet on quarterly basis in a year.

(2) Subject to the approval of the Chairperson, the Secretary of the Board may convene a meeting of the Board at such time and place as the Chairperson may deem necessary.

(3) The decisions of the Board shall be taken by majority of its Members present and voting.

(4) The Secretary of the Board shall, with the approval of the Chairperson, prepare the agenda, record minutes of the meeting and implement the decisions of the Board.

(5) The half of the total Members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the meeting.

7. Powers and functions of the Board.– (1) The Board shall:

(a) ensure achievement of the objectives of the Center within the ambit of Government policies;

(b) oversee the effective management of the Center and provide strategic directions;

(d) prescribe procedure for appointment, terms and conditions of service, disciplinary matters and other service matters for the employees of the Center under the Act;

(e) approve the vision and mission statement of the Center;

(f) approve the annual research priorities and programs under the Centre;

(g) review and approve the annual research report of the Centre;

(h) monitor organizational performance of the Center;

(i) approve the financial plans and annual budget of the Center;

(j) approve the academic and research programs and services of the Center to ensure that it fulfills legal, regulatory and accreditation requirements;

(k) constitute committees consisting of Board Members, employees of the Center and officers of the Government; and

(l) ensure compliance to Government policies and standards and to obtain prior approval of the Government in case of any deviation from agreed standards or procedures.

(2) The Board may obtain such information from any department or organization as it may consider appropriate and the department or organization shall supply such information in such form as may be determined by the Board.

8. Chief Coordination Officer.– (1) There shall be a Chief Coordination Officer of the Centre who shall be appointed by the Government from amongst the officers of Pakistan Administrative Service or Provincial Management Service or Police Service of Pakistan having BS-20 or above and he shall perform such functions and exercise such powers as may be prescribed by the regulations or delegated to him by the Board.

(2) The Chief Coordination Officer shall be assisted by a Deputy Coordination Officer who shall be appointed by the Government from amongst the officers of Pakistan Administrative Service or Provincial Management Service or Police Service of Pakistan having BS-19 or above.

(3) The Chief Coordination Officer shall be the Principal Accounting Officer of the Center.

(4) Subject to the approval of the Board, the Chief Coordination Officer shall:

(a) ensure initiation, processing and completion of memorandum of understanding, collaboration with the donors and other stakeholders for the launch of any seminar, symposium, project, research, summit and conference related to the objectives of the Centre;

(b) plan, contract and activate the database for the achievement of the objectives of the Center;

(d) act as Chief Executive Officer of the Center and have authority over all employees of the Center.

9. Appointment of officers, advisors, consultants and other employees of the Center.– (1) The Center may employ such officers, advisors, consultants and other employees as may be necessary for efficient performance of its functions on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed:

Provided that till the appointments are made under sub-section (1), Secretaries to the Government, Higher Education and Home Departments, as the case may be, shall, on the request of the Chief Coordination Officer, provide such number of technical support staff to the Center as may be required.

(2) In performance of their duties, officers, advisors, consultants and employees of the Center shall abide by the directions of the Chief Coordination Officer.

10. Fund.– (1) There shall a Fund to be known as the Punjab Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Fund to be administered and controlled by the Center in such manner as it may prescribe.

(2) The Center shall meet all its expenditures for the performance of its functions from the Fund.

(3) The Fund shall consist of:

(a) grants made by Federal Government or Government, from time to time;

(b) contributions and donations from individuals, local bodies, corporations, institutions, organizations and agencies;

(d) income from any other source.

11. Accounts and audit.– (1) There shall be a Fund account to be operated in such manner as the Board may determine subject to the directions, guidelines and policies issued by the Finance Department of the Government, from time to time.

(2) The Chief Coordination Officer shall prepare annual account statement of the Fund within thirty days of the closing of the respective financial year.

(3) The Auditor General of Pakistan shall annually audit the accounts of the Center.

12. Annual report.– (1) The Center shall, within three months of the close of a financial year, submit its annual performance report to the Government through its Administrative Department.

(2) The Government shall, within three months of the receipt of the annual report from the Center, cause it to be laid in the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.

13. Public servants.- The Chairperson, Members and all employees of the Center shall, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of the Act, be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860).

14. Indemnity.– No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against any person in respect of anything which is done or intended to be done in good faith under the Act.

15. Application of other laws.- The provisions of the Act shall be in addition to, and, not in derogation of any other law for the time being in force.

16. Power to make rules.– The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act.

17. Power to frame regulations.– Subject to the provisions of the Act and rules made thereunder, the Board may frame regulations for carrying out the purposes of the Act.

18. Removal of difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision of the Act, Government may make such order, not inconsistent with the Act, as may be necessary for the removal of such difficulty.

[1]This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 16 June 2025; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 25 June 2025; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 25 June 2025, pages 5227-32.