MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 8: AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan on Monday approved provision of Rs9.867 million to the police department in the ongoing financial year for the implementation of police reforms.

At a briefing given to him by the AJK police chief, Syed Asif Ali Shah, at the central police office, he said his government would take steps to make the department more effective and would ensure provision of required resources for the purpose.

The premier said the responsibilities of the AJK police had increased manifolds in view of the escalation along the Line of Control and added that the police would have to remain vigilant to maintain law and order, eradicate crimes and counter Indian-sponsored terrorism.

The PM gave approval to the police reforms, whereby investigation has been separated from law and order duties and the crimes branch has been re-designated as the investigation branch, led by the deputy inspector general of police (headquarter). The post of assistant inspector general of police, crimes, will be re-designated as SP investigation.

The PM allocated Rs847,000 for this purpose and Rs2.22 million for establishment of two police regions in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur and establishment/reorganization of model city police stations there.

He approved Rs4.8 million to meet the cost of investigation and Rs2 million for POL.