ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government has decided to transform the Frontier Constabulary (FC) into a fully federal paramilitary force with nationwide jurisdiction, government sources said on Sunday.
The restructured force, to be renamed the Federal Constabulary, will operate across all four provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The move is part of a broader strategy to centralise and strengthen Pakistan’s internal security apparatus in response to evolving security threats, sources in the Ministry of Interior said.
According to the official sources, the government will issue an ordinance to implement the decision after the federal cabinet’s approval of amendments to the Frontier Constabulary Act, 1915.
The colonial-era legislation will be revised to reflect contemporary security needs and grant the new force a clear legal mandate to operate nationwide.
Federal Constabulary will be commanded by officers from the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) and will work closely with provincial police, civil armed forces, and other federal law enforcement agencies to ensure coordinated responses to internal security challenges, sources said.
“The primary objective is to build a unified and professional paramilitary force capable of dealing with trans-provincial threats such as terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and organised crime,” an Interior Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
Once the ordinance is enacted, a nationwide recruitment drive will be launched, and regional offices of the new force will be established across the country.
Officials said the recruitment process will focus on merit and representation from all regions to ensure national inclusivity.
The move also includes comprehensive institutional reforms. Sources said the new ordinance will establish statutory backing for operational deployments, define standard rules of engagement, and introduce oversight mechanisms to ensure the force operates within constitutional and legal limits.
Interior Ministry officials described the transformation as a “timely and strategic response” to Pakistan’s shifting internal security landscape, marked by increasing urban insecurity and cross-regional criminal networks.
The reorganisation plan places emphasis on modernising training standards, upgrading operational equipment, and improving welfare for security personnel.
According to sources, the government is committed to professionalising the force and enhancing its readiness for modern internal security operations.
The decision was reached through wide inter-ministerial consultations, with inputs from the Ministries of Interior, Law and Justice, and provincial governments.
Officials say the restructuring will be subject to parliamentary and civilian oversight, ensuring transparency and democratic legitimacy.
