Strategy to be devised for effective implementation of CVE laws

Rawalpindi

Government needs to devise strategy for effective implementation of Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) laws at local level in Punjab, the district governments has not yet implemented counter violent extremism laws of Government of Punjab, Vigilance Committees at union council, tehsil and district level needs to be introduced for effective implementation of CVE laws and building peace at local level

Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) conducted a successful pilot project on implementation and awareness of local government representatives and communities on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) laws of Government of Punjab.

The project aimed to strengthen the role of local government representatives and district government officials in building peace in Pakistan through effective implementation of counter extremism laws made by Government of Punjab.

SSDO conducted a pilot project in the 10 selected union councils of Municipal Corporation that aimed to strengthen the role of local government and community in building peace in Pakistan. Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director of Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) said that the elected local government representatives and district officials can play vital role in building peace at local level in Pakistan.

The provincial government needs to devise a strategy to engage the local communities and elected local government representatives for implementation of counter violent extremism laws at union council level in Punjab. He said that SSDO conducted a pilot project in 10 union councils of Municipals Corporation and conducted orientation of 130 elected representatives, 30 district officials and 700 communities’ members of 10 union councils (70 each) on Counter Violent Extremism Laws of Government of Punjab. These laws include Vigilance Committees Act, Witness Protection Act, Temporary Residence Act, Sound System Act and Civilian Victims of Terrorism Ordinance.

He said that it was learnt during the implementation of project that the elected representatives and community members are willing to work as volunteer to support the law enforcement for building peace in Pakistan but the government at any level does not engage them despite having laws of vigilance committees that needs to be implemented in coordination with local communities.