RAWALPINDI: The government has provided the Rawalpindi police with 30 new vehicles fitted with trackers, anti-car lifting software, criminal records, high tech wireless system and video calling capabilities.

A total of 500 new patrol vans have been given to the Punjab police by the provincial government.

Punjab Law Minister Mohammad Basharat Raja handed over the vans to Rawalpindi City Police Officer Mohammad Ahsan Younis at Police Lines Headquarters.

Mr Raja said the government’s top priority was law and order and police welfare.

He said the last government had only criticised the police and did not provide any facilities.

“The police have been performing and producing results despite limited resources. If police salaries were made equal to that of the motorway police, they can perform much better,” he said, adding: “The police have sacrificed their lives for the protection of life of public and their property, which is commendable.”

He added that 100-year-old laws are still in force, adding: “We are trying to harmonise the law with the present time’s needs.”

“Under the current government, the Safe City project will be established in Rawalpindi and Faisalabad,” he added.

He said that previously, a police officer investigating a murder was given an investigation bill of just Rs290. This was increased to Rs30,000 by the current government, he said, adding that the investigating officer has to travel to Lahore to submit case evidence and other items for analysis.

“We are ensuring that a centre for the collection of parcels is set up at the divisional level,” Mr Raja added.

Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer Imran Ahmar said he hoped Mr Raja’s efforts would resolve problems of a shortage of manpower in the department with new recruitments as well as police complaints about allowances.

He said construction on the new City Police Office building and Safe City project have been stopped and need to be started as soon as possible. Mr Raja assured him the construction would be completed.

Later, Mr Raja laid flowers at a memorial to pay homage to police martyrs and visited the commad and control centre.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2020