Police unhappy with budget

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Territory Police is likely to get an increase of Rs200 million in its budget for the fiscal year 2010-11.

But police officials close to the development said that they had demanded an increase of Rs336 million. Talking to The Express Tribune, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Kamaluddin Tipu said, “We always need more funds because of the prevailing security situation.”

Tipu said the challenges faced by the Islamabad Police have increased manifold over a short period of time. Apart from everyday policing, counter-terrorism requires addition resources as well.

Sources in the Police Lines headquarters said last year Islamabad Police was given Rs3.5 billion, out of which Rs3.2 billion was consumed in salaries.

This year too, it is expected that the increase in budget will be consumed by the salaries.

Last year, Islamabad Police was left with an amount of Rs300 million to spend on police operations, 80 to 85 per cent of which was taken up by the Security Division. The division is responsible for providing security to government installations, the Red Zone and Diplomatic Enclave. It is also responsible for providing cover for senior government ministers and other officials.

This means that the capital police only had around 15 to 20 per cent of the amount (Rs300m) for regular policing of the federal territory, which includes countering criminal and terrorists’ activities. A senior police official from the Police Headquarters added that Islamabad Police faced severe shortage of funds to purchase petrol for its vehicles and other necessary equipment.

“We also require hand-held metal detectors, anti-riot kits, gas masks and explosives detectors,” he said.

“Moreover, we have limited amount of funds for everyday affairs like investigations of  detained people.”

He termed the likely increase of Rs200 million insufficient for the police department.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2010