KARACHI, Nov 16: The police reforms in Sindh, which were scheduled to be implemented from October 12, have been put into cold storage mainly due to financial constraints.
The reforms are estimated to cost about Rs270 million, but the plan contains no proposal for improvements in the salary package and working conditions of the upper and lower subordinates whose ranks range from constable to inspector.
To finance the reforms, authorities have directed the police to generate funds from their existing resources and through selling off valuable police property, like the Saddar PS which alone might bring a billion rupees .
The reforms in Karachi will have an additional financial requirement of Rs36,942,193 for transport of the executive cadre. Rs6.64 million have been proposed for office equipment including faxes, photocopier and wireless equipment.
The problem remains that no attention is being given to the welfare and improvement of constables who are expected to work attentively and in polite manners round the clock for a meagre salary of around Rs3000 per month.
According to a DIG, no steps have been taken under the proposed reforms to end “functional corruption”, which means corruption to run the system, as practically no fund is allocated for any police station to run its affairs.
A police constable gets a monthly conveyance allowance of Rs96, house rent Rs466, washing allowance Rs50, medical allowance and TA/DA Rs90 and Rs80 respectively.
With a maximum salary of Rs3700, a police constable in Pakistan is expected to perform duties at par with those in advanced countries. He can be called for duty any time and is usually not home on national and religious festivals.
At present, the Karachi range’s total annual budget is Rs1.44 billion, out of which Rs1.35 billion are utilised in payment of salaries, while the remaining amount of Rs95,282,850 is spent by the five districts of police, the CIA of Karachi and the range office, covering all their expenses including transport, machinery, equipment, electricity charges, cash rewards and even the secret service funds.
It is worth mentioning here that the amount is given to the SSP to run a district. And except for the District South, all the remaining four districts of Karachi receive Rs525,000 per annum for the transport of all the vehicles of the SSP and SP offices, circles headed by the DSP and police stations.
If distributed equally in the District East, only Rs1121.80 per month become the share for each SSP office, two SPs, 12 circles and 24 police stations, for fuel and maintenance of vehicles.
Another hindrance in the implementation of police reforms are the objections raised by political parties and many district Nazims from the interior of Sindh regarding the idea of two police inspectors generals in Sindh.
Some political parties have even described the move as a conspiracy to divide the province.
Authorities have finally decided to change the designation of IGP and proposals have been made for certain other structural changes in the new setup.—APP/PPI
