Watchmen receive arms training from police officials in Swat. PHOTO: FAZAL KHALIQ/EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: Business community of Islamabad and the police will work together for crime control, resolving the traffic issue and enhancing security of the capital city.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan during his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Saturday announced that special committees would be formed to address the problems of business community and ensure effective security in markets of the federal capital.

These committees will be comprised of the representatives both from the police and traders which would deal with the various issues including traffic and tenancy disputes with the facilitation of market unions.

DIG (Operations) Faisal Ali Raja, DIG Security Waqar Ahmed Chohan and other senior police officials were also present on the occasion.

The committees, IGP Zulfiqar said, would help installing security cameras in the markets and also provide their services for drug control, he told. He added that the committees would play a due role in solving the problems of community. He further stated that the representatives from the trading community would be given a role in the reconciliation committees to boost the cooperation.

The pilot project of the commitee will be initiated in the Blue Area which would be later replicated in other markets as well.

The IGP said since the Islamabad police were facing financial constraints, the business community should arrange security cameras while the police would identify spots for their installation in the markets.

He said control rooms should be set up in concerned markets manned by the representatives of traders. The control rooms should be linked up with central surveillance system of Islamabad Police that would help in controlling crimes in the markets and the city, he added.

The IGP said in cooperation with the ICCI and industry representatives, the Islamabad Police would issue identity cards to industrial labour that would help in improving security situation. The cases of 489f (bounced cheques) was a major issue for the police and the ICCI should cooperate in resolving the same, he added.

He said security situation could be made more effective with the cooperation of community. The Islamabad Police would adopt an inclusive approach and develop close liaison with the business community for resolving their issues, he added.

He said two community centers were working in Islamabad while two more, one each at Tarnol and Sihala, would be established to provide better services to the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2018.