Govt approves Rs300m for training 2,500 cops

Pakistan Army to impart special training to policemen; sell weapons and equipment

KARACHI: A total of Rs300 million were approved for special training of 2,500 personnel of the Sindh police. The policemen will be trained by the Pakistan Army.

Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah approved the funds while presiding over a meeting at CM House on Friday on the issues of the police department. Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja, Karachi Additional IG Mushtaq Maher, principal secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch, finance secretary Hassan Naqvi and home secretary Riaz Hussain attended the meeting, among others.



The CM said that the provincial police should be capable to deal with any kind of situation, which is why special attention was being given to its capacity building.

“I want to build the capacity of the Sindh police by giving them special training and providing them all the required facilities,” he said, directing the IG to submit a proposal to upgrade all the police training centres. He stated that three training centres, including those of Razzakabad and Saeedabad, should be upgraded in the first phase.



Shah said that these training centres must be improved by acquiring the services of highly professional trainers of the Pakistan Army and also those from abroad. “Our police are not doing ordinary work,” he said. “To deal with terrorists, target killers and such other criminals, special professional training is required.”

On the recommendation of the IG, the chief minister approved Rs1.9 billion to purchase 30,000 sub-machine guns (SMG) and other equipment from the Pakistan Army for the police. The IG told the chief minister that Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had assured the Sindh police during a meeting in Karachi that the latest equipment will be provided to them. He added that the army was providing SMGs on concessional rates.

Remembering the martyrs

Deciding the case of the deceased policemen, Shah approved the release of Rs500 million for onward disbursement among their widows and families. He also directed the IG to take personal interest and get the police facilitation centres ready by the end of the current financial year. The police are constructing 30 facilitation centres, one each in the district headquarters of the province.



‘Wear your helmet’

The CM further directed Khawaja to create awareness regarding wearing of helmets while riding motorcycles. “Once awareness is created, then take strict action against those who defy the instructions,” he said. He added that he has seen youngsters performing acrobatic stunts on their motorcycles on the main roads, which is dangerous and must be stopped.

The CM suggested that the motorcycle companies can be asked to launch schemes to offer two helmets while selling each motorcycle. There should be helmets for children and women as they too sustain head injuries during pillion riding accidents, he added.

Shah also issued clear directions against the use of hooters, police lights and high-intensity headlights on private vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2016.