Punjab Police ‘expedite’ work on new uniforms
Seven companies contest for provision of 25,000 outfits
LAHORE:
After a lapse of around two years, the Punjab Police has expedited the process of procurement of new uniforms and shortlisted seven companies after the technical bid for the provision of over 25,000 outfits to the force.
Olive green uniform for Special Protection Unit, traffic wardens and other squads, jerseys, jackets, shoes etc are included in the procurement procedure.
The companies will be further shortlisted for awarding of the contract after the financial bid. The process was impeded due to a longstanding split of opinion over the change of colour among the top brass of Punjab Police.
Last year, after Amjad Javed Saleemi had taken the reins of the force, the government of Punjab had announced a change of the uniform colour. However, Arif Nawaz who replaced Saleemi categorically rejected the change once again.
Police to spend Rs1.108b on green uniforms
In tandem, the process of procurement had been delayed. This year, Punjab Police allocated Rs1.108 billion for uniforms (stitched and unstitched) as part of its annual procurement plan 2019-20.
The controversy
The question of a change in police uniform has long remained an issue of debate among the top brass of Punjab Police. The uniform was changed in 2017 from a black shirt and khaki trouser to olive green.
As far as the history of black shirt and khaki trouser goes back, it was changed overnight after the first martial law was imposed in the country in 1958. Earlier, the police wore khaki trousers and a shirt. During the first martial law, it was changed to avoid confusion as army personnel also dealt with the public.
This black shirt and khaki trouser uniform was changed to olive green by the then inspector general of police Mushtaq Sukhera in 2017.
Sukhera mentioned environment-friendliness, aesthetics, ease of wear and cleanliness as factors that were kept in mind while deciding upon the olive green uniform.
He also said over 70% of the top brass had voted in favour of the new uniform during a secret poll.
But when the olive green uniform had been introduced, opinions were divided. A large number of Police Service of Pakistan and lower cadre officials raised reservations about the uniform, stating that the outfit failed to deter criminals.
In opposition to the change in uniform, Punjab Additional Inspector General Usman Khattak took the oath as interim IGP in the black and khaki dress. In comparison, the rest of the officials at the ceremony had donned the olive green uniform.
Sensing the polarised opinions, IGP Arif Nawaz had formed an eight-member committee, headed by the then additional IGP Muhammad Tahir, to gauge the force’s stance on the new uniform.
Govt approves new uniforms for Sindh police
The committee was supposed to survey the whole force that was spread across the province. However, with the change in government, the Punjab Police’s command was replaced.
The issue resurfaced after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) formed the government in Punjab after the general elections in 2018. In December 2018, Punjab Chief Minister’s Spokesperson Shehbaz Gill tweeted that the uniform of a black shirt and khaki pants would be introduced from July 1.
However, when Amjad Saleemi took charge as provincial police chief, he again deliberated upon different colours and samples of uniform. A pattern was almost finalised to replace the olive green outfit but he was also replaced by Arif Nawaz as IGP. Nawaz remained adamant to continue with the olive green uniform.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2020.
After a lapse of around two years, the Punjab Police has expedited the process of procurement of new uniforms and shortlisted seven companies after the technical bid for the provision of over 25,000 outfits to the force.
Olive green uniform for Special Protection Unit, traffic wardens and other squads, jerseys, jackets, shoes etc are included in the procurement procedure.
The companies will be further shortlisted for awarding of the contract after the financial bid. The process was impeded due to a longstanding split of opinion over the change of colour among the top brass of Punjab Police.
Last year, after Amjad Javed Saleemi had taken the reins of the force, the government of Punjab had announced a change of the uniform colour. However, Arif Nawaz who replaced Saleemi categorically rejected the change once again.
Police to spend Rs1.108b on green uniforms
In tandem, the process of procurement had been delayed. This year, Punjab Police allocated Rs1.108 billion for uniforms (stitched and unstitched) as part of its annual procurement plan 2019-20.
The controversy
The question of a change in police uniform has long remained an issue of debate among the top brass of Punjab Police. The uniform was changed in 2017 from a black shirt and khaki trouser to olive green.
As far as the history of black shirt and khaki trouser goes back, it was changed overnight after the first martial law was imposed in the country in 1958. Earlier, the police wore khaki trousers and a shirt. During the first martial law, it was changed to avoid confusion as army personnel also dealt with the public.
This black shirt and khaki trouser uniform was changed to olive green by the then inspector general of police Mushtaq Sukhera in 2017.
Sukhera mentioned environment-friendliness, aesthetics, ease of wear and cleanliness as factors that were kept in mind while deciding upon the olive green uniform.
He also said over 70% of the top brass had voted in favour of the new uniform during a secret poll.
But when the olive green uniform had been introduced, opinions were divided. A large number of Police Service of Pakistan and lower cadre officials raised reservations about the uniform, stating that the outfit failed to deter criminals.
In opposition to the change in uniform, Punjab Additional Inspector General Usman Khattak took the oath as interim IGP in the black and khaki dress. In comparison, the rest of the officials at the ceremony had donned the olive green uniform.
Sensing the polarised opinions, IGP Arif Nawaz had formed an eight-member committee, headed by the then additional IGP Muhammad Tahir, to gauge the force’s stance on the new uniform.
Govt approves new uniforms for Sindh police
The committee was supposed to survey the whole force that was spread across the province. However, with the change in government, the Punjab Police’s command was replaced.
The issue resurfaced after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) formed the government in Punjab after the general elections in 2018. In December 2018, Punjab Chief Minister’s Spokesperson Shehbaz Gill tweeted that the uniform of a black shirt and khaki pants would be introduced from July 1.
However, when Amjad Saleemi took charge as provincial police chief, he again deliberated upon different colours and samples of uniform. A pattern was almost finalised to replace the olive green outfit but he was also replaced by Arif Nawaz as IGP. Nawaz remained adamant to continue with the olive green uniform.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2020.