September 18, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 17, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Sept 17: The police department has proposed 10 new police stations and a Police Lines to improve the law and order situation, Dawn has learnt.

The proposed police stations will be located at Race Course, Morgah, Gujar Khan, Naseerabad, Ratta Amral, Chah Sultan, Golaira Gali, Gulzar-i-Quaid, Wah Cantonment and Chakri.

The proposal to establish a new Police Lines along Adiala Road has also been moved with the Punjab government. It would have barracks, parade ground, motor workshop, shooting range and other training facilities.

A senior police official said the need to set up new police stations had been felt because the law enforcers were facing difficulties due to rapid increase in population.

There are 25 police stations, including one for women, and 16 other police establishments located in the Rawalpindi district.

Some police stations are more than 50 years old and many are in dilapidated condition with poor facilities.

Recently, the police had to vacate the Gujar Khan police station amid fears that the building could collapse any time.

The police said their stations in the downtown city, Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kalar Syedian, Airport, Westridge, Saddar Bairooni, Pirwadhai and Sadiqabad were no longer fit for the purpose and urgently needed to be rebuilt.

They said the construction cost of the proposed police stations and the Police Lines would be assessed after the proposal was approved by the provincial government.

Police personnel residing in the present Police Lines Rawalpindi have been facing serious problems like gas disconnections, poor toilet facilities, water shortage, maintenance of their barracks and poor access roads.