RAWALPINDI, Sept 1: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police have sought an additional financial assistance from the federal government for purchase of 20 vehicles to escort the VIPs, an official source said on Monday.

The source said the financial assistance, if granted, would be in addition to Rs9 million provided to the ICT police under police reforms to purchase 11 single-cabin pick-ups.

Earlier, an amount of Rs38.6 million was also provided to the capital police for purchase of two double-cabin pick-ups, 10 single-cabin pick-ups Baleno (1279 - CC CNG), two 500cc and 30 250cc motorcycles, and prefabricated bodies for 10 single-cabin pick-ups.

The source said out of the 20 vehicles required, five pickup jeeps would be used to escort Senate chairman, foreign minister, National Assembly speaker, former Senate chairman, and former president of Pakistan Farooq Ahmed Leghari.

Similarly, two pick-up jeeps will be used by federal ministers on their visits outside the federal capital territory.

In addition to this, four vehicles will be used by chief ministers and governors for visiting different areas from Islamabad. One pick-up will be on escort duty with the federal minister for finance.

Likewise, four pick-up jeeps will be used to escort foreign delegations, while another will be for attorney general of Pakistan.

The source said one vehicle had already been provided to federal ombudsman by his office, however, there was a demand for provision of another escort vehicle by the police.

The Egyptian ambassador in Islamabad was also provided an escort vehicle, which had been impounded by the CIA police under section 550 CrPC.

A police official said because of escort duties, the daily demand of vehicles always remained high against the number of vehicles available. Some of the vehicles on permanent escort duty will be replaced after the purchase of new ones.

At present, about 12 vehicles of different types and of old models are being used to escort the judges of Supreme Court, the source said.