K-P takes more steps to bolster police force

Hard area status approved for merged districts to give incentives to cops posted there

PESHAWAR:

To counter the increasing lawlessness and terrorist attacks across the province, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has approved several proposals for further strengthening the police department, especially in the newly merged districts.

Hard area status for the newly merged districts has also been approved in order to provide incentives to the police employees posted there.

Chairing the 10th meeting of the Provincial Task Force, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan approved the establishment of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) headquarters in all districts of the province to ensure speedy investigation of terrorism cases.

However, he directed to put in place an interim arrangement till the establishment of proper infrastructure, enabling the department to discharge its responsibilities in an effective manner.

Matters related to police mobility in the newly merged districts, housing, shortage of officers from the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), shortage of policewomen in the merged districts and properly trained police force in the tribal districts were discussed in detail during the meeting.

 In order to enhance the professional capacity of police and to meet the requirements of human resource in the newly merged areas, chief minister directed simplifying the recruitment process so as to ensure timely filling of vacant posts and the recruitment of locals in the NMDs.

The chair also directed working out modalities for the formation of a provincial cadre for police services in order to address the shortage of qualified staff.

He agreed in principle with the proposal for provision of a Counter Terrorism Allowance for CTD employees, in addition to bringing the pay of police department officials on a par with the civil secretariat employees.

He ordered submitting the proposals to the committee concerned and working out the modalities in this regard for final approval by the government.

In order to strengthen CTD, the chief minister agreed with the proposal for creation of the post of Additional Inspector General along with other relevant posts, directing that the process should be completed by next week.

Additionally, approval was also accorded for the hiring of technical experts along with giving CTD access to technical data.

For the purpose, the chair directed to take up the matter with relevant federal departments to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

Furthermore, to provide sufficient incentives, the forum also agreed to give hard area status to the newly merged districts for which the matter will be taken up with the relevant forums.

The chief minister ordered that provision of arms, gadgets and other necessary equipment should be ensured on war footings, adding that K-P police is a professional institution which has rendered many sacrifices in maintaining the law and order situation in the province.

He assured complete cooperation in bringing the police department at par with contemporary needs, adding that technical development is paramount in this regard to ensure efficient service delivery and also provide safety to police personnel during their duties.