ISLAMABAD: Two New York City Police Department (NYPD) officials arrived on Tuesday on an eight-day visit to exchange knowledge with Pakistani law enforcement officials.

The visit has been funded by the US government and aims to foster positive and productive relations between the police forces of the two countries.

Lieutenant Adeel Rana and Detective Elvis Vukelj from NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau laid a wreath at the Pakistan National Police Martyrs’ Memorial and spoke at an International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program course sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

“As a Pakistani-American, I am excited with be back in Pakistan and meet local police officials to share ideas and experiences relating to community policing,” said Rana.

Read: UK to train Karachi police

Rana added that interactive community participation helps all of us address crime proactively.

Rana is also the president of the Muslim Officers Society in the NYPD.

Rana and Vukelj are also expected to meet with other law enforcement counterparts and interact with the youth through discussions and sports.

“I have found that sports are a valuable tool for police to break down barriers and develop lasting ties with their communities,” Vukelj said.

“I look forward to playing cricket alongside Pakistani police officers and students later this week,” he added.

Earlier in September, the British government has agreed to provide training to the Karachi police for their capacity building to improve law and order in the city.