BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Sukhera has claimed that Punjab police is the only force in South Asia that has been streamlined on modern digital pattern and converted into the most effective force to combat crime and terrorism in the province.

He was speaking at a farewell court at district police lines here on Sunday. The IGP is due to retire next month.

In his speech, IGP Sukhera spoke at length about the reforms and measures he had taken for strengthening of the police force, its development and steps for the welfare of personnel and those who had laid down their lives.

He said that by providing modern facilities of CCTV cameras, digitalisation, computerisation, the process of capacity building of the police had been completed. Commending the performance of officials of the Counter-Terrorism Department and paying homage to slain policemen, the IGP said that they had helped launch successful operations against militants and laid down their lives. He said families of these personnel would be provided monetary assistance from a ‘police shuhada fund’ raised with Rs2 billion.

The IGP claimed that welfare of serving police personnel, their uniform, pension and other benefits had been improved. He also took a pledge from the policemen to provide justice to poor men, orphans and widows.

Regional Police Officer Muhammad Idreas Ahmed, district police officers of Bahawalpur Ashfaq Ahmed Khan, Rahim Yar Khan Zeeshan Asghar and Bahawalnagar Liaquat Ali Malik also addressed on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017