UNODC, EU to launch three-year technical assistance programme in Pakistan

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United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s Country Office Pakistan with the financial assistance of European Union (EU) will be launching a three-year technical assistance programme with a special reference to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

With the financial support of 7 million Euros by the European Union, Pakistan’s Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT) project is developed by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) on behalf of the government of Pakistan in collaboration with the UNODC. During the project development stages, both provincial and federal stakeholders were closely consulted to ensure that project objectives directly contribute to the needs of each institution.

The project aims to improve the investigative processes and promote the use of forensic evidence during the prosecution stages of terrorism-related cases. It will also strengthen the co-ordination between the KP home department, police and prosecution, NACTA and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police.

The government of Pakistan is in the process of implementing a National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism, and the objectives of the signed project would directly contribute towards its execution.

The launch will be attended by Ambassador of European Union Jean-Francois Cautain, NACTA National Coordinator Ihsan Ghani, UNODC Country Representative Cesar Guedes, diplomats from international donor community, embassies, UN agencies, senior government officials from different ministries and agencies, prosecution, judicial departments and provincial excise and taxation departments, besides officials from the law enforcement agencies of the country.