Buzdar calls for institutional reforms for public-friendly police

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Wednesday stressed the need for institutional reforms for making police public-friendly in view of the department’s dealings with masses.

He expressed these views at the inauguration of the citizen-centric-police conference at Police Officers Mess.

Provincial Law Minister Basharat Raja, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information and Culture Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, IG Police, ACS (Home) and secretary information were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the event, the chief minister said the government was working to transform health and police departments to provide better services and every citizen will enjoy free medical treatment under universal health coverage programme, he added. The government has set a target to give universal health coverage to every citizen by the end of this year in Punjab.

Meanwhile, the CM disclosed that local bodies' elections will be held directly in Punjab and Ordinance has also been issued to curb corruption at the grassroots.

The CM said counters have also been established at hospitals for medicallegal certificates along with the establishment of Police Khidmat centres to facilitate the citizens.

The CTD has been equipped with necessary gadgets, he added. “The recruitment process of 10,000 police officials will be completed soon while police were also given 600 vehicles besides transfer of land to 101 police stations,” the CM said. “As many as 45 new police station buildings are also under construction.”

He emphasised that the system of postings and transfers has been made transparent and no political interference has been allowed in the process. “The government will extend full support and the police will have to come up to the expectations of the public,” he added.

IGP Inam Ghani, in his address, said the chief minister has supported police reforms and the volume of resources given to the police department is unprecedented.