LAHORE: Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz Khan on Tuesday announced steps to revamp the Special Protection Unit (SPU) to make it more effective to ensure foolproof security of the citizens and foreign experts working on various projects.

Speaking at a meeting of the SPU and other senior police officers at the Central Police Office (CPO), he said protection of foreigners working on projects and our citizens is the basic responsibility of the unit. Therefore, he said, negligence and non-professional attitude would not be tolerated.

He said the DIG SPU should visit sensitive working sites of the CPEC on a monthly basis whereas all the field officers should visit these sites fortnightly. He stressed that basic needs and facilities for these officials should be ensured on a priority. He directed the officers concerned to provide bulletproof jackets and helmets to the personnel working in open areas.

The constructive activities for recreation of the officials deputed on development projects should be held, he said.

The IGP further said a summary of vacant slots of officers/officials in the SPU should be sent to the Central Police Office so that these vacancies could be filled through new recruitment after seeking approval from the government.

Mr Nawaz directed the DPOs to look after the needs of the SPU personnel deputed on the CPEC projects in their respective districts and ensure activities for recreation of those who are deputed miles away from cities.

“The SPU should inform the additional IG logistics immediately to ensure provision of the resources,” the IGP added.

Addl IG Operations Punjab Inam Ghani briefed the IGP that 30 snipers had been trained by Pakistan Army for performing security duties on the most sensitive projects whereas 374 commandos trained by instructors of the Elite Police Force were performing their duties on important projects of the province.

He said training based on modern techniques, workshops and training courses would be continued to build capacity of the SPU officials.

SPU DIG Sultan Ahmad Chaudhry, Addl Director Security retired Lt Col Nadeem Khan, Addl Director Operations Col Mehdi Najam and Deputy Director Headquarters SPU retired Flight Lieutenant Qaisar Basheer Makhdoom attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2019