Police want Rs40b but have ‘fingers crossed’ for how much they do get

Eighty-five per cent of the funds have been earmarked for non-development expenses.

KARACHI: The Sindh Police Department has asked for Rs40 billion in the next fiscal year’s budget proposal, with more than 80 per cent of the funds going towards “employees-related expenses”.

According to the proposal submitted to the Sindh government this year, the funds are related to three major expenses – employees-related, operational and development.

Last year, the department had sent a similar proposal to the provincial government demanding Rs39 billion, but the government only allocated Rs31.2 billion. Another Rs500 million was allocated for the development component – known as the “Pink Book” in the interior ministry.

“The budget proposal is simple,” said Sindh Police Deputy Inspector General (Finance) Dost Ali Baloch, while talking to The Express Tribune. “We have asked for Rs40 billion and let’s see how much we actually get.”

According to Baloch, 85 per cent of the amount in the budget proposal has been earmarked for employees-related expenses while 15 per cent funds will be spent on operational expenses. “The development budget is based on the ongoing and newly-approved schemes,” said the officer.

According to the last year’s budget breakdown, over Rs25 billion of the allocated Rs31.2 billion was spent on non-development expenses, including salaries, allowances, medical expenses and outfit (uniform) allowances.

“Inflation has not only affected the common man but the police department also, especially the operational expenses,” Baloch said.

Last year, the operating expenses cost the law enforcement department Rs5.3 billion, but they expect the costs to go up considerably due to inflation.

“The operational expenses include everything but the salary. If we leave aside everything else, we can just consider the hike in fuel prices since last year,” the police officer elaborated.

The highest amount within the operational costs was spent on transportation last year, which corroborates Baloch’s concerns.

“With over 80 per cent of the funds spent on salaries and the rest going towards day-to-day expenses such as fuel, vehicle repairs, equipment, rewards, stationery and food, the police department needs more money,” the DIG Finance said. “The overall structure of the police department has to change through the budget and development projects.”

About the last year’s budget, Baloch said it was good enough but more funds are needed to run the department in an efficient manner and to resolve its problems.

Little has changed in the police’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year as compared with the last year’s budget. The department is hopeful of getting the full amount that may only just about cover the operational costs, but will not be enough to improve the force in any meaningful way.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2012.