By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has signed an ordinance transforming the Frontier Constabulary, a border security unit, into the Federal Constabulary, granting the federal government broader powers to tackle national security threats.
Effective immediately as of Sunday, July 13, 2025, the measure aims to strengthen law enforcement coordination and address emergencies, unrest, and other challenges across the country.
The Frontier Constabulary was historically tasked with securing Pakistan’s frontier and border regions, ensuring stability in these critical areas and preserving peace in remote territories. But with the nation facing a shifting security landscape, marked by rising emergencies, natural disasters, civil unrest, and other emerging threats, the need for a more adaptable force became pressing.
The Frontier Constabulary (Re-organization) Ordinance, 2025, addresses that need, taking effect immediately after its promulgation. The Law and Justice Division quickly followed with an official notification confirming the change.
The ordinance justifies its urgency. “As the Senate and the National Assembly are not in session and the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action.”
This legal maneuver underscores the government’s intent to act decisively amid heightened security concerns.
Officials emphasised the ordinance’s far-reaching implications. “It gives the federal government complete authority to deploy the FC nationwide for any security purpose,” Dawn newspaper quoted an unnamed official as saying.
He traced the force’s evolving role, noting its deployment in Karachi about 25 years ago, followed by assignments in the federal capital and later in Gilgit-Baltistan to safeguard the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and major dam projects. In the past, using the Frontier Constabulary for VIP security sparked public backlash. Now, the ordinance explicitly permits its use for “escort” protection, potentially broadening its scope to shield the country’s elite.
Under the new framework, the Federal Constabulary will be led by an inspector general appointed by the federal government. It will function as a reserve force, supporting the Islamabad Capital Territory Police, provincial police forces, and other security agencies.
The force will operate under the inspector general’s command, with assistance from additional inspectors general, deputy inspectors general, and assistant inspectors general from the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP).
It will be organized into two key divisions: the Security Division and the Federal Reserve Division. The Security Division will retain the Frontier Constabulary’s current personnel, maintaining their traditional appointment system as outlined in regulations.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Division will focus on anti-riot operations and special protection duties. The force’s structure will include wings, companies, and platoons, led by officers ranging from superintendents of police to assistant sub-inspectors.
The Federal Constabulary will wield extensive powers drawn from major legal frameworks, including the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and the Police Order, 2002. Beyond these, the federal government can grant additional police powers or duties to any member of the force through general or special orders, amplifying its operational flexibility.
The ordinance also ensures a seamless transition. “All members and employees of the Frontier Constabulary serving… immediately before the commencement of this ordinance shall stand transferred to the Federal Constabulary… on the same terms and conditions,” it states.
Likewise, “all assets and liabilities of the Frontier Constabulary… shall… stand transferred to and vest in the Federal Constabulary.” Existing rules and regulations from the Frontier Constabulary Act, 1915, will remain in effect unless they contradict the new ordinance.
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