PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Wednesday announced to increase the salaries and allowances of the provincial police to bring them on a par with those of Punjab’s policemen.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak during an award distribution ceremony at the Chief Minister’s House while responding to Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani’s complaint about police’s low salaries and increasing problems.

On the occasion, the chief minister also announced additional allowance for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) staff for handling sniffing dogs in the fight against terrorism.

Mr Khattak appreciated police for rendering great sacrifices to protect public life and property and said the government would fully support them in hour of need.

“We will bring the salaries of our police on a par with those of Punjab police with immediate effect,” he said.

Earlier, the inspector general of police said more than 750 police officers and personnel had laid down their lives fighting terrorism and that the number was on the rise.

He, however, said it was a matter of great concern that despite rendering so many sacrifices, policemen were getting less salary than their counterparts in Punjab.

Mr Durrani complained that policemen were given no extra allowance.

He distributed cash awards and commendation certificates among 30 police officers and personnel, who besides repulsing terrorist attacks on various police stations and checkposts in the province.

A fresh police constable in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is paid Rs17,000 a month, while the monthly salary of his counterpart in Punjab is Rs20,000.

An official of the account branch of Rawalpindi police said the fresh recruit to the force in the province was paid Rs20,000 every month but he was not entitled to draw other allowances.

It is learned that newly-recruited constable in Balochistan is paid Rs14000 a month and after training, the amount of money goes up to Rs17000 per month.

Details of Sindh police’s salary and allowances are not known.