ISLAMABAD: At a time when the threat of urban terrorism is at an all-time high, the capital police’s bomb disposal capacity has been reduced by a third, Dawn has learnt.

Capital police has been provided three vehicles of this kind by the US and the UK.

The vehicles are outfitted with equipment needed to detect, defuse and collect evidence from explosives.

According to officials, one of the three specialized vehicles used to detect and defuse explosives is out of use for want of new tyres.

The vehicle has been standing idle at Rescue 15 headquarters for over two weeks.

One of the remaining two functioning vehicles is used exclusively for VIP security, and the second by the police’s Special Branch.

Each vehicle attends to 15 to 20 calls per day, the majority of them to clear and scan venues.

A police official told Dawn that new tyres could be purchased on the police budget, but that there is no amount attributed specifically to maintaining and replacing vehicle parts which has led to a delay.

Under such circumstances, the SSP Headquarters would make a request to the DIG, who would approach the IG and the office of the Interior Secretary.

Following approval, a tender will float to select the company from which the tyres will be purchased, the official explained.

He said that the delay could put security arrangements in the city at risk given the current circumstances, adding that the police occasionally require the services of two or three vehicles at a time.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2014