ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday announced that an Air Patrolling Unit would soon be established in the capital.

Speaking at a news conference, he said he would inaugurate the unit and a dozen drone cameras had also been bought in this regard.

Manpower of the capital police is also being increased and 1,000 personnel will be inducted in the police force, the minister added.

Two locaters are also being purchased for the capital police, Mr Ahmed said, adding that Islamabad had not had a locater since the last few years.

They have to borrow locaters to track down the accused, the minister said.

Besides Art and Craft village, Melody Market and Food Park are being renovated whereas another food park will be established in the capital, Mr Ahmed said, adding that a club will also be inaugurated.

Last month, in a written reply to questions asked by MNA Naveed Aamir Jeeva, Mr Ahmed had said that the capital police force had strength of 12,515 including 8,147 constables, 1,568 head constables, 1,142 assistant sub-inspectors, 514 sub-inspectors and 173 inspectors.

There are 41 deputy superintendents of police, nine assistant superintendents of police, 20 superintendents of police, 12 assistant inspector general/senior superintendents of police, five deputy inspector generals and an inspector general of police.

Officials of the capital police said that the Air Patrolling Unit would work in collaboration with Safe City Project Islamabad.

A blue print of the unit is being prepared, but it is most likely to patrol urban areas of the capital, the officials said, adding safe city cameras are being installed. These drone cameras move in a radius of a kilometre or more to follow and keep an eye on suspects.

The unit will mount surveillance in areas vulnerable to crime against property, including burglaries, robberies, snatching, street crimes and auto-theft, they added.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2021