The Punjab government has decided to establish the province’s first Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (PIFTAC) at a cost exceeding Rs13 billion, introducing a cutting-edge model of counterintelligence and digital threat monitoring.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the Centre will operate on open-source intelligence systems, monitoring social media and digital platforms to track suspicious activities.
As per the channel report, through an advanced digital profiling system, suspected individuals and criminal elements will be identified in real time.
The Centre will also feature a video analytics system capable of detecting suspicious faces and activities.
A state-of-the-art Chief Minister’s Command and Control Centre will enable authorities to make swift emergency decisions.
The project includes data centres and high-performance computing units to secure intelligence records, while mobile command vans and UAV drones will be deployed to enhance field operations and surveillance.
This initiative is part of the Phase-I rollout, costing more than Rs13 billion, aimed at strengthening Punjab’s capacity to counter terrorism, organised crime, and digital threats with modern tools of intelligence.
At the federal level, a similar model already exists in the form of the National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (NIFTAC), established under the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA).
NIFTAC, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in May 2025, serves as the central coordination hub for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts. It integrates over 50 federal and provincial departments and agencies into a unified national security network.
In line with this model, Punjab’s PIFTAC will act as the provincial arm of NIFTAC, ensuring federal-provincial integration.
Reporter: Irfan Malik