NA panel okays FC reorganisation bill

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Tuesday recommended the passage of The Frontier Constabulary (Re-Organisation) Bill, 2025, with amendments, following detailed deliberations on the government-sponsored legislation.

The panel, chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, MNA, met at the Parliament House.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Frontier Constabulary (FC) briefed the committee on the proposed restructuring aimed at improving the operational efficiency and administrative structure of the force.

The Commandant Frontier Constabulary presented a comprehensive overview of the Bill, tracing the FC's historical evolution from the Border Military Police and Samana Rifles, established under the Frontier Constabulary Act of 1915.

He explained that the reorganisation, initially introduced through an ordinance on July 13, 2025, seeks to modernise the FC's structure and better align its functions with emerging security requirements.

Under the proposed plan, the FC would be divided into two components – the Security Division and the Federal Reserve Division (FRD).

The Commandant informed the committee that out of the sanctioned strength of 27,765 personnel, around 24,765 would serve in the Security Division, while 3,224 would constitute the newly formed FRD.

The FRD, he elaborated, would function as a permanent, Islamabad-based federal reserve force, comprising personnel from across Pakistan. It would be responsible for specialised riot control, protection duties, and rapid deployment to federal or provincial areas as needed.

The reorganisation, he said, would address long-standing challenges caused by frequent redeployments that affected operational continuity and accommodation logistics.

Recruitment for the FRD would follow a national quota system, with 20 per cent each for the four provinces, 10 per cent for Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 6 per cent for Gilgit-Baltistan, and 4 percent for the Islamabad Capital Territory.

Basic training would continue at Shabkadar, while specialised courses – including anti-riot and tactical operations - would be conducted at Sihala and other designated facilities, possibly with the involvement of inter-force and foreign trainers.

The security division would retain its current duties, such as providing security to diplomatic missions, federal installations, and national projects, along with supporting counter-terrorism operations.

The Commandant emphasised that despite the structural changes, the FC would continue to function as a civil armed force under the administrative control of the Ministry of Interior, with no alteration in its legal status.