QUETTA, Oct 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has directed law-enforcement agencies to ensure peace and security to facilitate the flow of investment in Balochistan and said that it was vital for investment inflow and the promotion of economic activities.

He was reviewing the law and order situation in the province while presiding over a meeting at the Governor's House here. The provincial inspector general of police briefed the prime minister on the law and order situation and actions being taken by police to maintain security and peace in the province.

Shaukat Aziz was informed that adequate security arrangements have been made at the Gwadar port. The prime minister said that maintenance of the law and order was the government's top priority, adding that the government wanted to ensure a safe and secure environment.

Prime Minister Aziz urged the police to focus on pre-empting crimes and said that there was a need to be set up a special branch to make the police force more efficient.

He said keeping in view the nature and intensity of crimes, the reactive approach of the police had to be changed, adding that it should concentrate on intelligence gathering to pre-empt crimes, adding that more efforts should be made to trace the crimes.

The Gwadar port, he said, would be made functional early next year. Well planned and fool-proof security arrangements would be essential for the port's smooth operation, he added.

The prime minister said that the law-enforcement agencies should focus on training to improve the quality and professional standards of their personnel. He expressed the hope that Gwadar port would become the hub of the economic activities.

He said that a well-trained and well-equipped police force would be required for providing safe environment to investors and tourists.

The prime minister directed the Balochistan government to fill vacant posts of police officers by appointing suitable and competent officers, adding that officers' performance should be judged by results. He urged the police chief to use all resources to achieve these objectives, he added. -APP