Cities would be secured under the Punjab Safe City Project by employing state-of-the-art technology. PHOTO: NNI
The Punjab Safe City Project is of great significance with regard to securing citizens’ lives and properties, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday.
He was chairing a meeting convened to review progress on the constitution of the Special Protection Force. Security arrangements for the upcoming tour of the Zimbabwe national cricket team, expansion of the Elite Police Training School, progress on the Punjab Safe City Project and the law and order situation in the province were also reviewed on the occasion.
The chief minister said cities would be secured under the Punjab Safe City Project by employing state-of-the-art technology. He said work on this account should be prioritised. Sharif said the steering committee should regularly review all matters related to the project and take immediate steps to address relevant issues.
He said the expansion of the Elite Police Training School was the need-of-the hour. Sharif said a new campus equipped with state-of-the-art technology would be established at Bedian Road. He said a District Elite Police Force Group would also be constituted. Sharif said the cabinet committee should ensure immediate implementation of steps needed to be taken regarding the school’s expansion. He said a report on this account should be submitted in one month.
The chief minister said the 10,000 personnel-Special Protection Force was being constituted to guarantee foreigners’ security. He said work on this account should be carried out on a war footing. Sharif said recruitment of officials to the force should be done on merit through the National Testing Service. He said the provision of modern training for them should be ensured. The chief minister ordered the constitution of a sub-committee of the cabinet committee tasked with reviewing the implementation of steps taken with regard to the force and devise suggestions.
Sharif ordered the police and district authorities to ensure that foolproof security arrangements were made for the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team. He said a four-tier security cordon should be established on this account. Sharif said alternative routes should be earmarked to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the team’s tour. He said it was imperative to raise public awareness regarding alternative routes.
A one-minute silence was observed for those killed in the helicopter crash in Naltar. Home Minister Shuja Khanzada, Law Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, former law minister Rana Sanaullah, Provincial Assembly Member Zaeem Qadri and several senior bureaucrats were also present at the meeting.
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The resounding victory of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in the recent Cantt elections is the result of its commitment to serving the public, Sharif said.
He said Friday’s helicopter crash in Naltar had saddened the entire nation. The chief minister expressed grief over the incident and said the government equally shared the grief of the families of the deceased.
Quetta Mayor Kaleemullah Khan said the chief minister had put the province on the road to progress and prosperity. He said the people had acknowledged Sharif’s “round-the-clock hard work.” He said there had been a marked improvement in the education, health, infrastructure, transport sectors in the province and citizens’ living standard was improving. Khan said Sharif’s vision of serving the people distinguished him.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2015.
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