Two years on, Dolphin Force without dedicated PS

Force is currently operating from Police Lines

FAISALABAD: Even after the passage of two years, the Dolphin Force has no dedicated police station or headquarters in Faisalabad.

No high ranking officer is available to command or monitor the personnel operating from the Police Lines.

The Dolphin Force was deployed in Faisalabad on October 27, 2017 to curb rampant street crimes. The force has 210 personnel divided into 34 teams. There are three sub-inspectors, two assistant SIs, five head-constables and 190 constables. Two employees were posted as teachers in the education department and left the force. Also, 10 women from the district police force are serving in the Dolphin Force.

After the deployment of the Dolphin Force in Faisalabad, the construction of its multi-storey headquarters and police station on 12-kanal land was started adjacent to Ghulam Mohammad Abad. The estimated cost of the building was Rs120 million and it was to be completed in six months. But after more than two years, only the structure has been constructed at a cost of Rs60 million. The construction has stopped due to lack of funds and the cost has been constantly increasing due to inflation.

Works on fixtures, doors, electricity etc is yet to be completed. As per the rules, the Dolphin Force is supposed to have a separate SSP and DSP but in Faisalabad it is answerable to SSP operations and DSP headquarters. The force is currently operating from the Police Lines due to unavailability of separate space.

Regional Police Officer Riffat Mukhtar Raja blamed lack of funds for the incomplete construction work. He said department had requested the government for funds to complete the construction.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2020.