PUNJAB CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM ACT 2025

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PUNJAB CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON COUNTERING 
VIOLENT EXTREMISM ACT 2025  
(LIII of 2025) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Establishment of the Center 
4. Powers and functions of the Center 
5. The Board 
6. Meetings of the Board 
7. Powers and functions of the Board 
8. Chief Coordination Officer 
9. Appointment of officers, advisors, consultants and other employees of 
the Center 
10. Fund 
11. Accounts and audit 
12. Annual report 
13. Public servants 
14. Indemnity 
15. Application of other laws 
16. Power to make rules 
17. Power to frame regulations 
18. Removal of difficulties
TEXT 
1
PUNJAB CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON COUNTERING VIOLENT 
EXTREMISM ACT 2025  
(LIII of 2025) 
           [25 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; 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 16 June 2025; and was assented to by Governor of the Punjab 
on 25 June 2025; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 25 June 2025, pp. 5227-5232. 
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(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 i n the fields of preventing and 
Countering Violent E xtremism, 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;  
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(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 lead ers 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 Repu blic 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 ha ve 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 G overnment, Higher 
Education Department.  
Member 
(i)  Secretary to the Government, Law and Member 
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Parliamentary Affairs Department.  
(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; 
(c) ensure efficient and effective performance of the Center and its 
programs;  
(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 program s 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; 
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(j) approve the ac ademic and research programs and service s of 
the Center to ensure that  it fulfills legal, regulatory and 
accreditation requirements; 
(k) constitute committees consisting of Board M embers, 
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 depar tment or 
organization as it may consider ap propriate 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 officer s 
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, sympo sium, 
project, research, summit and  conference related to the 
objectives of the Centre; 
(b) plan, contract and activate the databas e for the achievement of 
the objectives of the Center; 
(c) perform any other task assigned to him by the Board; and 
(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 appointment s are made under sub -section (1), 
Secretaries to the Government, Higher Education and Home Department s, 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. 
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(2) In performance of their duties, officers, advisors, co nsultants 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;  
(c) grants from any other source; and 
(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 prepa re 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 month s 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 Paki stan 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.  
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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.