NACTA was established as an administrative entity under Ministry of Interior in 2008. However, it was reorganized as federal authority vide NACTA Act 2013 to act as a focal national institution and unify state response to counter extremism and terrorism by combining the efforts of law enforcement & intelligence agencies and by formulating and implementing policies & action plans through continuous research, adaptive innovation and ancillary mechanisms.
NACTA derives its mandate from Article 4 of NACTA Act 2013. Article 4 of NACTA Act spells out the following functions:
- to receive and collate data or information, or intelligence and disseminate and coordinate between all relevant stakeholders to formulate threat assessments with periodical reviews to be presented to the Federal Government for making adequate and timely efforts to counter terrorism and extremism;
- to coordinate and prepare comprehensive national counter terrorism and counter extremism strategies and review them on periodical basis;
- to develop action plans against terrorism and extremism and report the Federal Government about implementation of these plans on periodical basis;
- to carry out research on topics relevant to terrorism and extremism and to prepare and circulate documents;
- to carry out liaison with international entities for facilitating cooperation in areas relating to terrorism and extremism;
- to review relevant laws and suggest amendments to the Federal Government; and
- to appoint committees of experts from Government and non-Government organizations for deliberations in areas related to the mandate and functions of the Authority (NACTA).
NACTA maintains some of Pakistan's terrorism watchlists, titled: Proscribed Persons and Proscribed Organizations.
Link here: https://nacta.gov.pk/