ISLAMABAD: The capital police have devised a mechanism for philanthropists under which they will deliver essential commodities at the doorsteps of the needy and underprivileged families.

A senior police officer told Dawn that the mechanism was aimed at avoiding law and order situation as recently the police had to baton charge a crowd at Tramri Chowk to collect edibles being distributed by philanthropists.

According to the mechanism, the police will develop a data of underprivileged people at police station level so that they can be provided essential items at their doorsteps in an organised manner, a police officer said.

So far all police stations in the capital have traced 45 to 60 deserving families, an officer told Dawn, adding that their number would increase as their data collection was still at an initial stage.

Besides, there are 18 slums in the capital’s urban areas having a population between 250,000 and 350,000, he said, adding that their details were being collected.

Industrial Area SP Zubair Ahmed Shaikh said it had been observed that people gathered to collect edibles turn into a mob which not only created law and order situation but also compromised on the precautionary measures against Covid-19.

Therefore it has been recommended that police stations may be considered as community centres during this crisis and police force be treated as partners of all philanthropists so that their charity work can run in an organised manner.

The police stations are serving as contacts between the needy and the philanthropists, SP Shaikh said, adding that details of such people would be provided to philanthropists, NGOs and social workers.

Besides, police security will also be provided to philanthropists when they visit houses of underprivileged, he said.

On Friday, Saya Foundation in collaboration with Islamabad United Group and Industrial Area police distributed bags of edible items among 150 workers of Sunday Bazaar, who were rendered jobless, the SP added.

Darul Aman Foundation Islamabad in collaboration with Islamabad United Group and Industrial Area police also distributed edibles among 350 families of Rimsha Colony.

Banigala police assisted philanthropists in distributing ration among 25 families.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2020