Punjab police face salary deduction for Covid-19 relief fund

Medical staff were provided safety kits, extra remuneration after protests

LAHORE: While the doctors and paramedical staff serving on the front line against coronavirus are being paid additional allowances by the Punjab government, parts of the salaries of police personnel have reportedly been deducted for the Chief Minister’s Coronavirus Relief Fund.

Doctors and paramedics were the first to face difficulties as the medical staff initially had neither safety equipment nor testing kits for patients. When the doctors and paramedics protested, the government provided kits, masks, and sanitisers in addition to a month's extra pay and screening for the virus.

Similarly, the health department staff involved in shifting citizens to hospitals or quarantine centres were given safety kits. Rescue 1122 workers were also provided protective gear.

However, the police personnel working on the front line along with them were ignored by the authorities. While some front line workers received extra pay, they had their salaries deducted.

Due to the unavailability of supplies on time, police personnel also started getting infected during their deployment in risky areas in the city.

In Lahore, two constables died due to the virus while a large number of personnel in police lines, an SSP, and a DSP, were affected by a coronavirus.

Constable Shams, a father of three, and Ramzan Alam, father of five, have fallen victim to the disease.

Meanwhile, the salaries of all police personnel were reportedly deducted for the coronavirus fund.

Some police officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that on the orders of the IG, the force had contributed Rs1,000 to Rs20,000 per the official, depending on their rank, from the salary of March to the fund, from which Punjab Police had distributed ration among needy persons.

“The police force is proud to be able to help economically while protecting the lives of the people,” an official stated. “However, in April, the same proportion was deducted from our salary without any notice and deposited in the Chief Minister's Coronavirus Relief Fund, and we are disappointed due to this decision.”

The number of coronavirus patients in Police Lines was increasing, he added.

“The police personnel should be paid an extra salary as well as a risk allowance,” he added.  So far, 8,500 employees have been tested, more than 4,000 tested negative, while 4,100 results were yet to come.

According to reports so far, 285 employees including SSP Admin Malik Liaqat, Iqbal Town Dolphin DSP Muhammad Afzal, the Raiwind SHO and Lorry Ada Chowki in-charge tested positive for coronavirus. Of them, 227 are undergoing treatment, while 58 have recovered and returned to duty.

Samiullah, the first police officer to be infected with the virus, said he was treated for 27 days and was well supported by the staff and officers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2020.