LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate on Saturday (today) a new police station in Mianwali that has been established under the Special Initiative of Police Stations (SIPs).

This is one of the 50 police stations that are being built on modern lines to mitigate the problems of the masses.

Former IG Punjab Arif Nawaz launched this scheme in October last year after the task was assigned by Prime Minister Imran Khan to change the thana culture in the largest province. Mr Arif had given Nov 30 deadline for upgrading the 50 police stations under the SIPs, an official told Dawn.

He said the newly-appointed IG while declaring it one of the major initiatives, ordered to materialise the scheme in letter and spirit.

The Central Police Office had released Rs40 million for the renovation and upgradation of the police stations.

The official said the PM would also address the regional police officers and district police officers through video link from Mianwali while inaugurating the city police station. Under the proposed scheme, 29 police stations out of 50 have been completed in the first phase and the remaining would be completed next month.

IGP Shoaib Dastagir on Friday called a meeting and reviewed the work done a day before the inauguration of the police station by the PM. He announced that the prime minister would inaugurate the project in Mianwali on Saturday (today). He said modern technology and smart ideas-based model police stations (SIPS) would provide the citizens quick relief, change the thana culture and strengthen the trust between the public and police.

The police station has a fundamental position within department and the steps taken by the CPO would surely improve the working of police stations in Punjab. The IGP also viewed the model police stations of different districts via video link.

On the occasion, AIG Development Hassan Iqbal briefed the participants on the model police stations. He said that in the first phase, 29 police stations including one in Mianwali district had been upgraded and the basic objective of this project was to ensure easy and quick provision of facilities to the citizens.

He said the buildings of the model police stations had been divided into two parts with an effective use of modern technology.

Friendly environment with modern technology would be ensured at police counters and waiting rooms. Facilities like khidmat markaz would provide services and facilities to the citizens through token system. The dispute resolution DRC / committee room, SHO office and front desks had also been established in these police stations.

For hardcore policy matters, the facilities including rooms of the police officers, monitoring and operations rooms and lockups are provided at the back end of the police stations, said the official.

He further said that with the issuance of token system at front end of the building, the culture of references and VIP protocols would come to an end.

Mr Dastagir directed the officers concerned to expeditiously complete the work on 21 police stations in other districts.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2020