Balochistan police raise country’s first ever women anti-riot unit

This is a revolutionary step taken by Balochistan police and hopefully it would have a positive impact, says spokesman

QUETTA:

The first anti-riot all women unit of the country has been established in Balochistan to play an important role in maintaining law and order and mob control in the province.

On Thursday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Balochistan, Abdul Khaliq Sheikh and other high level officers of the police department witnessed the passing out parade of the newly inducted unit. “This is a major development towards women’s empowerment and ensuring women’s representation in the police,” IGP stated, urging the members of the unit to work hard to make it a real success story and an example for other provinces.

He said that women were not less talented than men and that is why Balochistan police decided to raise the unit to provide them with equal opportunity.

According to the Balochistan police spokesman, Balochistan’s first ever anti-riot all-women unit, which is 40-strong, has been successfully raised with an aim to increase the women’s participation in the provincial police.

Special training has been given to women constables to enable them deal with any emergency situation and it has been equipped with modern anti-riot gear and tools.

“Indeed it is a first not only in Balochistan province but also in the country without any doubt,” he said, adding that women cadets were recruited from Quetta and other parts of Balochistan and they underwent a special training.

This is a revolutionary step taken by Balochistan police and hopefully it would have a positive impact, he noted.

According to the spokesman, this unit has been initially established in Quetta but later it will be extended to the level of division and then every district of Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2023.