RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi region police was allotted 26 luxury vehicles including two Toyota Fortuners – one for the regional police officer (RPO) and the second for city police officer (CPO) - as a way for the police to be more accessible. The new 24 Toyota Hilux (4*4) double cabin vehicles were purchased for sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs) in December 2022 by the then provincial government of Punjab for official use.

Of the 24 Toyota Hilux – 11 vehicles were allotted to Rawalpindi district police, six vehicles for Attock district, four vehicles for Jhelum, two for Chakwal and one for Talagang. The 11 luxury vehicles allotted to Rawalpindi district police will be given to SDPOs of Taxila, Saddar Bairooni, City, Kahuta, Kotli Sattian, Civil Lines, New Town, Cantt, Gujar Khan, and Murree Kohsar. Six Hilux vehicles allotted to Attock district will be allocated to SDPO Saddar, DSPO Hasanabdal, SDPO Fatehjang, SDPO Hazro, SDPO Pindigheb and SDPO Jand.

Likewise, in Chakwal, one vehicle was allocated for SDPO (Saddar Circle), SDPO (Choa Saidan Shah), while one vehicle was assigned to SDPO (Talagang). SDPO Saddar Jhelum, Pind Dadan Khan, Sohawa, and City Jhelum each received one of four opulent vehicles.

In addition to 24 Toyota Hilux – two Toyota Fortuners were assigned – one to RPO and the other one to CPO Rawalpindi. The two top police officials have started using the luxury Toyota Fortuner.

A police spokesman said that the induction of new vehicles in the police pool will enhance patrolling and will help keep a check on crime. The double cabin Hilux vehicles were purchased for Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Murree, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Jhang, T.T Singh, Chiniot and Sargodha.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2023