QUETTA: The Balochistan cabinet on Thursday approved a plan to establish a special division of police force for Quetta to ensure security and protection of people.

Official sources said that under the new special security division, over 1,300 vacancies of ranks of Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) to constables would be created and they would be trained on modern lines. The meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, was informed that the security division would have the latest communication system as well as modern weapons and other equipment.

“The provincial government will create 1,305 new vacancies from the rank of soldiers to SSPs who will be selected purely on merit,” a senior official of the Balochistan government said after the meeting.

The cabinet also decided to declare Quetta, Gwadar and Lasbela districts A area and Levies force of all these districts would be merged into the police department.

The meeting also approved Rs939 million in compensation for the people affected by the Mirani Dam project.

The federal government is providing funds for the project. The cabinet also approved 10 billion tsunami tree project under the Green Pakistan initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan under which 250 million plants would be planted across the province.

The cabinet was informed that Rs16 billion had been estimated to be spent on the project and the federal government would bear 75 per cent expenses of the project.

“The project will increase forests in the province and protect wildlife.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2019