Pakistan’s Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT) project handed over 6 armoured vehicles to the KP Police

23 June 2020, Peshawar: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Office Pakistan, in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA),   with the financial support of the European Union (EU), under the framework of the Pakistan’s Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT) project handed over six armoured vehicles to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police. This first batch of six vehicles out of twenty have been armoured while work on the remaining fourteen is underway and expected to be completed within the year.

Due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation, a virtual handing over ceremony was organized during which Mr Jeremy Milsom, UNODC Country Representative in Pakistan, appreciated the work of the Police, specifically the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), as many of its personnel lost their lives on the front line in our common fight against terrorism. He also reaffirmed UNODC’s continued support to the law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in the Province, and noted that the armouring of vehicles would positively contribute towards enhancing the mobility of the Police in responding to terrorist incidents.

In a recorded video message Ambassador of the EU to Pakistan, H E Androulla Kaminara, ,  expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders of the PACT project: including KP Police for its continued support in the implementation of activities, NACTA for providing overall guidance and oversight, and UNODC for being a dedicated implementation partner. She further stated that ‘ ‘The PACT project in KP has been guided by the conviction that for the fight against terrorism to be effective and sustainable, it has to be conducted according to principles of the rule of law’ and  noted that ‘the project has contributed in two ways: on one hand it has strengthened the capacity of the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to respond to terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while on the other it has strengthened the public’s trust in these institutions’.

On behalf of the Inspector General of Police KP, Dr Muhammad Ayaz Khan, Director Research & Analysis Wing (CTD), thanked the EU for its financial contribution in converting the police’s regular vehicles into armoured vehicles. He also thanked UNODC, NACTA, and the Counter Terrorism Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their overall support in making this activity possible. The conversion of these vehicles would enable a safer working environment by decreasing the risk of being targeted - especially in high risks areas - while responding to terrorism related incidents and during investigations. He added that this contribution would strengthen the operational capacity of the CTD Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The ceremony was also attended by Mr Kamran Taj, Director CT Division MOFA, who likewise acknowledged the value of this contribution, and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to working with international partners for preventing and countering terrorism.

On conclusion of the event Mr Asif Saifullah Paracha, Member Policy NACTA, highlighted the key role NACTA was playing in facilitating and supporting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh in overcoming the challenges posed by terrorism, by working in close partnership with the EU and UNODC. He also paid tribute to the martyrs of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police who had sacrificed their lives to improve governance and rule of law in the Province, which would in turn impact positively the entire country and region.