House approves bill unanimously, signaling cross-party consensus on urgent need to institutionalize efforts to combat terrorism
LAHORE: In a decisive move to curb the spread of violent extremism and radical ideologies, the Punjab Assembly on Monday passed a landmark piece of legislation the Punjab Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Act 2025 (Bill No 72 of 2025).
The bill was unanimously approved by the House, signaling a cross-party consensus on the urgent need to institutionalize efforts to combat terrorism and hate-based violence in the province. The Act paves the way for the creation of a dedicated research-driven institution the Punjab Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism which will function as a think tank, policy advisory body, and operational support system to confront all manifestations of violent extremism. This includes hate speech, misuse of religion for political or sectarian agendas, radicalization through digital platforms and glorification of terror.
The Centre is envisioned as a multidisciplinary hub that will engage with academic institutions, civil society actors, and religious scholars in developing counter-narratives and evidence-based policies. It will also directly assist the provincial government in implementing key strategies aligned with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliance requirements. Unlike past reactive measures, this initiative aims to proactively identify and dismantle the root causes of extremism through research, training, and coordinated action. The legislation mandates that the Centre will monitor and counter online radical content, cyber-propaganda and incitement to violence, which are seen as growing threats in the digital age.
The governance of the Centre will rest with a high-level Board of Governors chaired by the Punjab chief minister. Other members will include provincial ministers for Home and Higher Education, the chief secretary, the inspector general of police and leading experts from academia and civil society. This structure is designed to ensure a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to countering extremism.
An important component of the initiative is the establishment of a Punjab CVE Fund which will support the Centre’s operations. Funding will be sourced from the provincial government, international donor agencies and contributions from the private sector. Oversight and transparency of the fund will be ensured through annual audits conducted by the auditor general of Pakistan.
As part of its capacity-building mission, the Centre will organize training workshops, research fellowships and public engagement programs aimed at building resilience among vulnerable groups, especially youths, women and marginalized communities who are often the prime target of radicalization networks.
In the statement of objects and reasons accompanying the bill, the government emphasized that the rise of extremism in both physical and digital spaces required a comprehensive, long-term policy response rooted in research, civic engagement and inter-agency coordination. This Centre will act as Punjab’s strategic nucleus in the fight against extremism. It is a timely and critical response to the ideological and security threats facing the society. By investing in knowledge, policy and prevention, Pakistan is securing a more peaceful and united future for all citizens.
The passage of this bill comes at a time when security agencies and civil society organizations have expressed growing concern over the resurgence of banned outfits, sectarian hate speech and digital radicalization campaigns targeting youths. With Punjab being Pakistan’s most populous and politically-pivotal province, the establishment of the Centre is being hailed as a major step in the country’s broader counterterrorism strategy. The provincial government is now expected to formally notify the Board of Governors and begin the establishment of the Centre’s physical and administrative infrastructure in the coming months.