KARACHI, Sept 11: Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the performance of the Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary, Balochistan, and approved permanent deployment of police force in the area for the maintenance of law and order in the border areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

A grant of Rs600 million has been announced by the Federal Government in this regard, the minister said during a visit to the Headquarters of Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), where he attended a conference about the ongoing operation against outlaws in the border areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

On arrival at the Rangers HQ, Faisal Saleh Hayat was received by Director-General Maj-Gen Salahuddin, who later held an exchange of views on certain matters. Later they attended a conference on law and order in the Sindh-Balochistan border areas.

The interior secretary, the DG of Frontier Constabulary Balochistan, the Sindh chief secretary, the deputy DG of Rangers (Punjab) the deputy DG of Rangers (Sindh), the DIG police HQ (Sindh) and other high officials attended the conference.

During a briefing, the interior minister was told about the latest situation with reference to the anti-dacoit operation in the border areas.

Later talking to journalists, the interior minister described the operation as very successful and said a number of arrests had been made during the operation and the area had been cleared of criminals to a large extent.

He said what was needed now was that the Federal Government provide all possible assistance to the provincial governments for the establishment of permanent and lasting peaceful conditions in the area.

In this regard, he said, the Federal Government had already sanctioned Rs600 million so that not only law and order was established but the police were deployed there in an organized and a permanent basis with the provision of all facilities to them, including their professional training, provision of weapons and necessary equipment.

Mr Hayat said a time-frame of six months had been given for the completion of the plan and the Rangers and the FC would remain present in the area during this period and help the police.

He said many other decisions had also been taken to implement the plan in real sense and ensure that complete hold of law was established there.

Speaking about the overall law and order situation in the country, the interior minister said the government was fully aware of the conditions at home and would show no relaxation in this regard. He said all law enforcement agencies were fully alert.

Answering a question, he said the Rangers and the FC provided help to the police in maintaining law and order in the urban areas and until the provincial governments fully organized their respective police force and resolved their problems, the Rangers and FC would continue to assist the police. — APP