President Asif Ali Zardari has signed an ordinance that transforms the Frontier Constabulary (FC), a long-standing border security force, into the Federal Constabulary—empowering the federal government to deploy it across Pakistan for law enforcement and emergency response.
The ordinance, titled the Frontier Constabulary (Re-organization) Ordinance, 2025, came into effect immediately after its promulgation. A notification was issued shortly afterward by the Law and Justice Division. Officials said the decision was made due to rising internal security challenges, civil unrest, and natural disasters that demand a more flexible and centralized security force.
Initially formed to maintain peace in Pakistan’s frontier and border regions, the FC’s responsibilities will now expand significantly. It will serve as a reserve force to support police and other security agencies nationwide, particularly during emergencies or special operations.
The ordinance stated that since Parliament was not in session, the President had used constitutional powers to enact the change urgently.
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A former interior secretary said the reorganization grants the federal government full authority to use the force across the country for any security-related task. He recalled that FC units were previously deployed in Karachi, Islamabad, and later in Gilgit-Baltistan, where they protected strategic infrastructure like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and key dam projects.
Critics had earlier questioned the use of FC for VIP protection, but under the new framework, the force can legally perform such duties under the “escort” category.
The newly established Federal Constabulary will be led by an Inspector General and divided into two wings: the Security Division and the Federal Reserve Division. The latter will handle anti-riot operations and special protection duties. The force will retain its traditional personnel structure while introducing senior police officers from the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) to oversee its operations.
It will exercise powers under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Police Order 2002, and other applicable laws. All assets, liabilities, and employees of the former FC will be transferred to the restructured Federal Constabulary under the same terms of service.
