LAHORE: Newly-appointed Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana has directed the Lahore police officers to stay away from land grabbers and illegal possession of properties.

At a first meeting with senior police officers of the city on Thursday, he unveiled his policy and strategy for the control of crime and maintenance of the law and order in the provincial capital.

Three DIGs of operations, investigation, security, the traffic police chief, all the senior superintendents of police, and division SPs of both wings also attended the meeting besides the head of the security, headquarters department, CIA, anti-vehicle lifting and the dolphin squad.

He said he would not tolerate the complaints of involvement of the police in illegal occupation of land or properties.

He said that under the new policy, the role of SSPs would be much more critical and important as compared to other officers in the maintenance of law and order and crime control. He directed officers to prepare themselves to play a decisive role in the new policy during his tenure in Lahore.

He added the prompt registration of cases and investigation on merit were the only solutions to problems.

He said that round-the-clock availability of SSPs of wings and immediate response to incidents of crimes would be the basic requirements of policing.

He said that the delay in the investigation of cases was a major issue in the solution of public grievances.

He also stressed the timely redressal of complaints received from the IG office, front desks and the CCPO office.

The CCPO said that the SSPs should intensify their crackdown on kite flying, aerial firing and drug dealers.

HEALTH: Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Dr Irshad Ahmad has said his department was trying to bridge gaps to meet the international standards of global health security.

At a meeting of global health emergency response and international standards of public health here on Thursday, he said his department has a plan to upgrade the capacity building of its staff under the International Health Regulations of 2005.

He said all commitments made under IRH-2005 would be implemented.

Dr Irshad Ahmad said the department in collaboration with the UK health security agency been undertaking extensive training of its staff on disease surveillance and response since December 2022.

All desired results will be achieved by the collective efforts of all vertical programmes, he added. He maintained that Punjab has excelled in the prevention of epidemics and pandemics.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2023