ISLAMABAD, March 5: The annual budget of the capital police is being increased by about 100 per cent to improve their performance in providing better security to the president, prime minister, foreign dignitaories
and other important personalities, interior secretary Tasneem Noorani told reporters at a press conference here on Friday.
Under a revamping plan the annual budget of the ICT police would go up to Rs1.238 billion from the current budget of Rs650 million. Following the completion of the revamping process, Rs588 million would be allocated to the department every year in addition to its current annual expenditure of Rs650 million, the secretary said.
The revamping process, Mr Noorani said, would be implemented within next few weeks. "However it would be on ground within a year," he added. Under the plan the Islamabad police would be divided into two separate divisions - Security Guards and Investigation.
"It has been observed that 61 per cent of the existing force are performing security guards duties as out of the total 7,206 strength 4,217 prsonnel have been deployed as security guards at Prime Minister's House, Parliament House, federal ministries, embassies and other important places in the capital," he said.
Responding to a question, he said, the two divisions would be headed by two separate SSPs but both the divisions would have one IG on them. He said about 1000 officers would be inducted afresh in both the divisions each and four new police stations would be established in Golra, I-9 area, Chak Shahzad and in the jurisdiction of secretariat police station.
Mr Noorani said Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali had approved the revamping plan and an act was being promulgated to give legal cover to the plan. Similarly, the finance ministry had been asked to provide the required funds for establishing police stations, barracks for the policemen and purchase of vehicles/equipments.
He said the force of 5,000 police personnel in Security Guards Division would be trained on modern lines and a special squad would be formed comprising for the security of President Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.
The secretary said salaries of the police officials would also be increased under the plan as the police personnel in Security Guards Division would take one extra basic salary every month and 50 per cent of the force in Investigation side would also avail this benefit.
"This 50 per cent of the investigation force would be selected every year under a prescribed criteria," he added. Besides, a special investigation cell, bomb disposal unit, police dog centre, forensic laboratory would also be established.
Answering a question about the hardships faced by the people due to movement of VVIPs, the secretary said: "The president had ordered the police not to block roads for such movements for more then 15 minutes."
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY: Talking about the FIA, Mr Noorani said immigration and passport wing of the FIA was being strengthened and 18 additional passport cells were being established all over the country.
The official said an anti-terrorism squad was also being formed in the FIA comprising 50 officers. These officials would also get one extra basic salary every month. He said a raise of Rs1000 is being given to employees of FIA as it had already been provided by Islamabad police.
CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: Highlighting various projects of the CDA, the secretary said chairlift was being installed in between Japanese Park and Margalla Hills, two clubs on the patron of Islamabad Club were being established in F-9 Park, mono train would be plied and parks was being improved.
