The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has approved the establishment of the Special Branch as a fully specialized unit with a separate cadre, officials said.
The decision was made during a key meeting chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, where officials were briefed on the branch’s ongoing responsibilities, including intelligence, security, verification, survey, and surveillance operations. Officers from the merged tribal districts (308 personnel) have also been integrated into the Special Branch.
According to the briefing, in 2025 the Special Branch successfully neutralized 2 suicide jackets, 32 IEDs, 70 rocket shells, and 288 hand grenades. The unit also secured 635 political gatherings, verified licenses for weapons and explosives, and conducted 3,124 NADRA verifications, 6,840 passport checks, 14,518 CPEC personnel verifications, 6,060 personal verifications, and 9,413 government officer checks.
The Chief Minister approved the creation of 1,221 new posts in the Special Branch and emphasized that the unit would receive priority allocation of human resources and other necessary facilities.
Funding approvals were also granted for infrastructure and equipment, including Rs 1,820 million for buildings, Rs 904.7 million for vehicles, 98 cars and 404 motorcycles, and Rs 2,543.9 million for technical equipment and technology acquisition. New buildings for the Special Branch across the province were also approved.
Afridi stressed that the Special Branch would be upgraded in line with intelligence and counter-terrorism requirements, describing the police as a “key pillar in the fight against terrorism.” He further directed that proposed allowances for personnel be prioritized for approval.
