Police stations to be renamed as ‘public safety centres’

In an effort to reform the police system and change the long-standing ‘thana culture’, the Punjab government has proposed renaming police stations across the province as “public safety centres”, replacing the 150-year-old colonial-era term “thana”.

Following final approval from the provincial cabinet, the process of renaming police stations will be initiated.

Government sources said the PML-N government is seriously considering the proposal.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the word “thana” has become a symbol of fear, discouraging citizens from approaching police stations. The name change is aimed at enabling citizens to seek justice and lodge complaints without hesitation.

There are currently more than 500 police stations across Punjab, along with around 100 police check-posts. After final approval, constitutional and legal steps will be taken to implement the name change.

However, District Bar President Sardar Manzar Bashir, Assistant Attorney General Masood Shah, and secretary candidate Mehran Ejaz Anwar Chaudhry said that changing names would make no real difference. They argued that real reform would come through changes in police behaviour and public dealings.