LAHORE: In what appears to be the first mega initiative of its kind, the Punjab Police has notified upgrading of 171,354 posts of constables, head constables and assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs).

The notification was issued on Oct 7 -- a week after the Punjab Finance Department approved the scheme on Oct 3 -- providing a mega relief to lower cadre policemen in a bid to boost their morale. A copy of the notification is available with Dawn.

The step would help police employees in pay and pension besides departmental promotions.

“The financial implication on this sole scheme for policemen has been estimated to be Rs480 million,” Inspector General (IG) Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera told Dawn.

He also said clearance of A-List B-I course had been declared mandatory for a constable to be eligible for promotion to head constable. For the purpose, a candidate under the age of 37 must appear for the test, he said, adding that unfortunately many of them failed and consequently dumped or retired as constables from service.

“Now, the Punjab Police has also planned a scheme for failed constables to give them the opportunity of promotion to the next rank,” IG Sukhera said.

He further said according to the scheme, 10pc out of the failed constables would be promoted to exemptee head constables on the basis of seniority and fitness.

According to the notification issued by the finance assistant inspector general (AIG), 126,809 posts of constables had been upgraded from BPS-5 to BPS-7. Similarly, 12,681 posts of exemptee head constables and 18,860 head constables had been upgraded from BPS-7 to BPS-9.

About the ASIs, the notification reads 13,004 posts of this rank had been upgraded from BPS-9 to BPS-11.

The police through letters asked the accountant general of Punjab to adjust pays of the beneficiaries from Nov 1 in accordance with the notification. All heads of police officers and account officers of the districts concerned had also been informed about the decision.

The IG further said as low-ranking policemen underwent very different training regime and performed duties in challenging circumstances, the chief minister had approved a summary forwarded by the police department to enhance their ranks.

To a question, he said funds worth Rs480 million would be arranged from the available budget instead of getting additional grant from the government.

In a related development on Tuesday, the IG directed the city police officers, regional police officers and district police officers to expedite the promotion matters of police officers without any delay.

Addressing them through video link at Central Police Office on Tuesday, the he gave a deadline of a week to complete the process.

Sukhera asked them to complete the annual confidential reports of police officers from deputy superintendents of police to superintendents of police and dispatch their cases to his office within the given time.

About promotions of the low-ranking policemen, the IG directed officers to convene promotion board meetings in their respective regions and districts to expedite the process.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2016