Pakistan’s federal government has underlined that its recently revamped Frontier Constabulary is not a federal police force but instead intended to improve internal command and deployment capabilities.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry stressed at a press conference in Islamabad the distinction between federal police and Federal Constabulary: “No one should confuse that this is federal police – it remains FC.” His comments coincided with those from FC Commandant Riaz Nazir Gara following President Asif Ali Zardari’s promulgation of the Frontier Constabulary (Re-organisation) Ordinance 2025 under Article 89 of the Constitution, thus creating a separate organizational unit within FC.
Transformation Details and Legal Framework
The ordinance formalises renaming of the Frontier Constabulary established under the 1915 Frontier Constabulary Act into the Federal Constabulary with broadened authority for national deployment across Pakistan. (Wikipedia +5 Geo News).
Though still based in Peshawar and led by a BS-21 police officer, the force now serves in all provinces and territories across Pakistan including Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (Wikipedia +5
Geo News).
Sources indicate that the reorganisation will involve making adjustments to nearly century-old legislation, currently waiting cabinet approval, in addition to issuing a presidential ordinance expanding their jurisdiction nationwide and opening recruitment centers throughout the nation (Wikipedia +4 The News International +4)
Operational Scope and Command Structure Historically, the FC has served as a federal paramilitary entity with responsibility for border security, tribal incursions, law and order maintenance, and tribal incursions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; under administrative control by Interior Ministry with operational control by provincial governments (Columbia Law School Scholarship Archive/ The Express Tribune/ Wikipedia).
Notably, while its mandate has broadened over time to encompass urban security in high-risk areas and VVIP protection services, this transformation marks its first formal expansion into a federal role.
The Frontier Corps is distinguished from the FC by being headed by officers of Pakistan Police Service whereas Frontier Corps falls under Pakistan Army command structure with four Pakistan Army-officered units under its purview.
Implications for Internal Security
The restructuring is part of an overall effort to centralize counterinsurgency and internal security operations–particularly ahead of Karachi and Punjab’s anticipated monsoon-related civil unrest. Security experts suggest that a centralized force with national deployment authority would respond more swiftly to any internal contingencies ranging from flashpoints in KP to law-and-order breakdowns in Punjab’s urban centers.
This reform also fits within recent security cabinet discussions advocating for a comprehensive approach to counter terrorism and violent extremism risks.
Recruitment, Oversight, and Civil-Military Balance National recruitment has begun and it is anticipated that the Federal Constabulary will establish regional offices beyond its traditional KP heartland to extend their reach into new regions (Wikipedia + Geo News+ The Express Tribune).
Oversight mechanisms remain grounded in civilian agency, with the Interior Ministry maintaining administrative control and PSP leaders leading their forces.
Analysts caution that care must be taken to strike a balance between central authority and provincial rights, including adequate coordination with provincial police forces in Punjab and Sindh to avoid jurisdictional conflicts.
Bottom Line Pakistan’s official transformation of the Frontier Constabulary into a nationwide Federal Constabulary marks an ambitious expansion of internal security infrastructure. Although managed under civil oversight, this paramilitary entity will still require recruiting and deployment with province law enforcement for proper functioning. If effective coordination ensues between recruitment and deployment begins then whether this move advances national security or causes jurisdictional friction will become evident over time.