To boost morale: IGP seeks upgrade of cops’ pay scale

PESHAWAR:

K-P IGP Nasir Khan Durrani has requested the provincial government to upgrade the basic pay scales (BPS) of constables, head constables and assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) serving in the police department.

According to a handout issued on Friday, the police department has sent an official summary to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak proposing that an ASI’s pay scale be upgraded from BPS-9 to BPS-12, head constables’ pay scale be upgraded from BPS-7 to BPS-9 and 10% of constable posts be upgraded from BPS-5 to BPS-7.

In the past seven years, 815 policemen have been killed and 1,787 have been injured in the fight against militancy; a majority of these held the ranks of constable, head constable and ASI.

The handout added no government has focused on increasing policemen’s pay scales even though the department has rendered invaluable services in combating terrorism; the last pay scale revision was made 25 years ago in 1990.

Making the case for constables, the department wrote that because of a limited number of seats in the next rank, a majority of constables fail to get a promotion throughout their careers despite having qualified in the requisite courses and exams.

Similarly, head constables are expected to perform duties as supervisory officers in challenging circumstances and their pay scales should be raised to encourage them to work with more devotion and commitment.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2015.