ISLAMABAD: The capital police have made the women police station functional again.

The women police station was established about two decades ago but had been non-functional for a couple of years.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Sultan Azam Temuri said the scope of work of the police station had been expanded and now it would also function as the Violence against Woman and Child Protection Centre.

Women and children can seek assistance from the centre through a helpline - 8090. Medical assistance and legal help would also be provided to them. The centre will deal with sexual and gender violence cases, he stated.

The centre would also work as a model police station with all its working to be computerised. It would have separate desks for different complaints. The local community including women, elders and NGOs, have also been invited to work with the police at the centre.

Gender desks have been established in all the 22 police stations of the capital and linked with the centre. Complaints lodged by women or related to women and children at any police station would be referred to the centre.

Women who do not want to visit any police station may seek assistance from the centre, he added.

The IGP also presided over a meeting at the woman and child protection centre on Monday.

He told the participants of the meeting that the establishment of such a centre in Islamabad was the need of the hour. Doctors, scholars and legal advisers should also provide services at the centre.

The IGP said a police mobile van and ambulance had been provided to the centre to respond to any complaint from women and children within 5-7 minutes.

He said effective measures were being taken to curb drug peddling activities in educational institutions and several drug suppliers had been arrested after registration of cases against them.

He said a conciliatory committee had also been set up at the women police station to resolve petty cases.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2018