ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has formed a three-member committee to finalise a road map for raising first-ever Metropolitan Tourist Police for Islamabad.

Following the recent approval of board to forming the police, a committee comprising Member Finance, Member Admin from CDA and DIG has been set up to finalise the roadmap.

“The committee is going to meet this week. The Islamabad police will assist us in raising this force,” said CDA Member Finance Rana Shakeel Asghar.

He said that CDA would get posts and personnel from Islamabad police who would also train the tourist police officials.

The member finance said the committee would decide the roadmap, such as training of force and logistic, etc. “Then we will earmark funds for this project,” he said.

Another officer of the CDA said DIG police unfortunately have contracted Covid-19 and now, SSP would likely to attend the meeting of the committee.

He said that this police would be friendly, and would provide protection and guidance to tourists and other citizens particularly in public parks and other recreational sites.

He said CDA wanted to have 200 police officials for this force but the committee would make final decision in this regard.

In Islamabad parks several incidents of robberies and even in one park a couple of year ago a rape case was also reported, so CDA officials believes, the police will help the civic agency in providing safe and secure environment to visitors and local citizens.

Last week, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also said that the tourist police would be deployed at 24 points in Islamabad, including Faisal Mosque and on the road to Murree.

“The CDA board has already decided to set up the force and we also have full support of interior minister, so I guess, within a month, this force will be established,” the officer said.

Several years ago, the CDA had announced to have a special police and even a separate police station, but that plan could not be materialised. However, this time, the civic agency seems serious about this project, as this matter also got approval of CDA board recently.

Asked about this project, the officer said that the CDA chairman and interior minister have been taking interest in the project to facilitate citizens, so “there is no reason why this police force should not be raised,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2021