ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday approved the Shuhada Assistance Package, Sehat Insaf Cards and residences for the capital police.

The prime minister approved a proposal for bringing the Shuhada Assistance Package for the Islamabad Capital Territory police.

Police officials said that before this, the family of a martyred police official would get Rs2 million and that they would now be given Rs20 million after the package’s approval, the same as that for police in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The premier also approved houses for officials of the capital police in the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme.

Police officials said there are over 12,000 officers in the capital police force of which only 3pc of them have an official or personal residence.

The prime minister also approved Sehat Insaf Cards for the capital police to facilitate them in their healthcare needs as the cards will provide full medical cover to them.

Officials of the capital police did not have full medical cover before this and would get loans in case they needed medical treatment.

The premier approved the three packages in a meeting with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Mohammad Amir Zulfiqar Khan, who briefed him about the capital police. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Asad Umar and Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi among others.

The IGP briefed the premier about the performance of the Islamabad police and the way forward for transforming the force into a model police force.

Sources said he also highlighted the various steps taken on the prime minister’s directions for improving service delivery and instilling a sense of security among the inhabitants of the federal capital.

The IGP identified various administrative, legal, financial and human resource constraints faced by the police. He also talked about the progress in the crackdown against drugs, the land mafia and the anti-encroachment drive.

The premier directed for a comprehensive plan to be submitted for meeting the police’s requirements and assured that the government will support the force in every way in its mission to serve the people.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2018