Empowered: K-P police to get 21% more

Rs39.7 billion earmarked for the department in fiscal year 2017-18

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhunkhwa (K-P) government has enhanced budget allocation for police department by 21% -- from Rs32.9 billion in the outgoing fiscal year to Rs39.7 billion in the fiscal year 2017-18.

Of the total budget, the government has allocated Rs2.4 billion for 59 projects -- Rs1.9 billion for 40 ongoing projects and Rs437 million for 19 new projects, according to the finance bill. The projects are related to the police, prison, reclamation and probation departments.



The government will set up a forensic science laboratory in Peshawar and a counter-terrorism feasibility study; construct traffic wardens headquarters and model police stations in each tehsil and town of the province; and build district jails in Shangla, Swabi and Nowshera.

Moreover, projects are also proposed for improvement of female and juvenile sections in selected jails, construction of model interview rooms in selected jails, and establishment of planning and monitoring cell at inspectorate general of prisons department.

In his budget speech, K-P Finance Minister Muzafar Said told the house that police had been empowered through Police Act, 2017 and equipped with contemporary training modalities and updated weaponry. Infrastructure for the police force was also being developed, he added.



He said the issues of overcrowded prisons, energy crisis and security needed to be addressed through construction of new jails for which funds had been allocated in the fiscal year 2017-18.

“Installation of separate feeders for jails and their solarisation will be done by the government to reduce burden of expenses on the government exchequer,” he pledged.