PM takes stock of ‘revised NAP’

Apex body decides to set up National Crisis Information Management Cell

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday reviewed the progress made so far on the revised National Action Plan (NAP), particularly taking into account the latest situation in neighbouring Afghanistan and its possible effects on the country.

The premier chaired a meeting of the apex committee of NAP that reviewed short-, medium- and long-term targets of the revised action plan and deliberated on the role and responsibilities of all stakeholders, including the federation, provinces and law enforcement agencies.

Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI today chaired a meeting of Apex Committee of National Action Plan. pic.twitter.com/trsGk2aYRc

— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) September 9, 2021

The meeting was attended by chief of the army staff; Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general; federal ministers for foreign affairs, defence, finance, interior and information; national security adviser; chief ministers of the provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan; AJK PM; federal secretaries; chief secretaries; IGs and other senior civil and military officials.

The committee decided that tangible key performance indicators would be set for each target with delineated timelines.

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It was decided to fast track the implementation of various measures to meet emergent challenges including cyber security, espionage, judicial and civil reforms, capacity building of law enforcement agencies, violent extremism and other issues having direct bearing on national security.

In order to ensure timely, correct and smooth flow of information about internal security issues, it was decided to set up a National Crisis Information Management Cell with ministries of interior and information as lead bodies.

The committee also reviewed various steps that had been put in place to ensure fool-proof security for foreigners, especially Chinese nationals working on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other projects in the country.

It also reviewed the internal situation, especially some recent incidents involving law and order. It was resolved that all measures would be taken to ensure internal security and miscreants would be dealt with full force of the law.

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The prime minister said the nation had paid a huge price in fighting the menace of terrorism. He paid tributes to the armed forces, police, intelligence agencies and other law enforcement agencies for their invaluable contributions and sacrifices towards ensuring internal security.

PM Imran also emphasised on the need for enhanced coordination and effective measures to achieve the short-, medium- and long-term targets set under the revised NAP.

Last month, the prime minister had ordered updating the 2014 NAP to make it more effective to cater to the needs of present-day challenges, especially espionage, subversion and cyber security.

He was chairing a meeting, where the country’s top civil and military leadership reviewed the overall law and order situation and implementation status of NAP 2014 that was formulated to ensure security in the length and breadth of the country.

While reviewing the law and order situation in the country, especially, in tri-border areas of Punjab and Balochistan, the prime minister had directed for the setting up of an inter-provincial border committee to address boundary issues using the Survey of Pakistan 2021.