CTD Budget Aims to Strengthen Digital Surveillance

The Punjab government has approved an additional budget of over Rs. 1.9 billion to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

These funds will be used to buy cutting-edge digital media monitoring software, open-source intelligence systems, new cars and machinery, and other things that will make the department better able to fight terrorist threats.

Software acquisition, transportation, and necessary equipment will be the beneficiaries of the monies sought for the current fiscal year, according to sources.

This investment is a crucial step towards improving counter-terrorism efforts in Punjab, which has seen a considerable increase in terrorist events, especially in KP and Balochistan.

In April of this year, 25,432 individuals were arrested by the CTD Punjab on suspicion of being associated with terrorist groups that are prohibited. The department has prepared a report that includes the names, affiliations, and other personal details about these people.

8,926 individuals were associated with the same group, and 968 of those were said to have been impacted by the ideology of Daesh, a terrorist organization that has been classified on an international level. Additionally, the CTD has increased its monitoring of these people, focussing on keeping an eye on what they’re doing and stopping any new security risks.