Khattak greenlights Investment Protection Force for K-P

K-P chief minister says adequate security will be provided to foreign investors

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on Saturday approved a dedicated Investment Protection Force [IPF] for the province to provide security to those making investments as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor [CPEC].

According to a handout issued by the CM House, the decision was taken at a meeting attended by, among others, IGP Salahuddin Mehsood, head of Strategic Support Unit Sahibzada Saeed, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Muhammad Israr, the secretaries of Planning and Development and Home departments. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.

The meeting discussed the arrival of investors in the province in the wake of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Road-Show in Beijing where dozens of MoUs were signed.

During the meeting, Khattak said the provincial government would provide adequate security to foreign investors.



Approving the dedicated force, he said that initially, the force would be raised by reshuffling personnel from various law-enforcement organisations. “The strength of the dedicated investment protection force would later be raised to 4,000 personnel.”

He approved the recruitment of personnel in two phases along with acquisition of vehicles, equipment and other force multipliers. Khattak said that funds for 500 personnel would be set aside in this year’s budget while the remaining funding would be reflected in the next budget.

The meeting also approved the setting up of a coordination committee, comprising officials of police, P&D and Home departments.

The chief minister stressed the need for enhanced coordination among all stakeholders to achieve the desired results as laid down under the security plan. He directed the IGP to submit details of requirements in this regard.

The CM said that the Beijing road-show had opened up the province to foreign investors and they would flood the province to carry out different agreements.



“We are taking steps to tackle the security-related challenges to restore investor confidence besides creating an ideal and investment-friendly environment in the province,” he said.

‘Elements in LG defaming K-P govt’

Later, Khatak also held a meeting with delegates from Malakand Division at the CM House.

He said that certain elements in the local governments were trying to defame the provincial government, hatching conspiracies against the Local Government system. He said: “Power and authority always carries an element of responsibility … So all elected representatives must understand the essence of devolution and use their powers in a responsible manner.”

The provincial government, he said, would continue transferring resources to the local government system.