Highway security: Karakoram Security Force to become part of regular police
Karakoram Security Force provide security to Chinese officials working on expansion of the Karakoram Highway.
PHOTO:FILE
GILGIT:
The Gilgit – Baltistan (G-B) government has decided to give permanent jobs to policemen employed for the Karakoram Security Force (KSF).
The KSF is responsible for providing security to Chinese officials working on the expansion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
“The regional Inspector General Police Usman Zakria has taken up the issue with the chief minister. The government will need Rs138 million annually to fund the force,” a government spokesperson said on Thursday.
The KSF was made in 2008 to monitor security on the highway. The project with the Chinese government will be ending this year and the risk of losing jobs had created unrest among the force.
“To pacify KSF officials, the police chief took timely steps for their regularisation,” said the official, adding they would be merged with the regular police once the KKH project completes and Chinese workers return to their country.
Zakria discussed the matter of the 500 officials at a meeting with the National Crisis Management Cell in Islamabad, which the interior minister approved.
The salary and other allowances of KSF officials will also be increased for which Rs50 million will be released to the G-B government, said the official.
The force had observed a strike earlier demanding that they be given permanent employment.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2013.
The Gilgit – Baltistan (G-B) government has decided to give permanent jobs to policemen employed for the Karakoram Security Force (KSF).
The KSF is responsible for providing security to Chinese officials working on the expansion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
“The regional Inspector General Police Usman Zakria has taken up the issue with the chief minister. The government will need Rs138 million annually to fund the force,” a government spokesperson said on Thursday.
The KSF was made in 2008 to monitor security on the highway. The project with the Chinese government will be ending this year and the risk of losing jobs had created unrest among the force.
“To pacify KSF officials, the police chief took timely steps for their regularisation,” said the official, adding they would be merged with the regular police once the KKH project completes and Chinese workers return to their country.
Zakria discussed the matter of the 500 officials at a meeting with the National Crisis Management Cell in Islamabad, which the interior minister approved.
The salary and other allowances of KSF officials will also be increased for which Rs50 million will be released to the G-B government, said the official.
The force had observed a strike earlier demanding that they be given permanent employment.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2013.