RAWALPINDI: Several shortcomings were identified in the implementation of the Special Initiative Police Stations (SIPs) project during a recent inspection of the police stations by Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfraz Alpa.

Sources said the national and police flags displayed on the rooftop of the police stations were torn, CCTV monitoring screens not installed in front desks and no CCTV cameras were installed in the SHO and muharrar offices.

Moreover, cleanliness level in the front desks was unsatisfactory, the staff posted was unaware of SIPs SOPs and victim support officers (VSO) and guide constables unavailable.

These discrepancies were detected by Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfraz Alpa during an inspection of the police stations as part of the implementation of SIPs project. He directed to rectify the issues within one week and submit compliance reports without any delay.

Three reminders sent to SPs for rectifying discrepancies but reports still awaited, say officials

Following the concern expressed by the RPO, the City Police Officer (CPO) had to send three reminders to the superintendent of police Saddar, Potohar and Rawal Division for pending reports rectifying the discrepancies early last month and also early this month, sources said.

“The reports, despite asking them to submit by August 4, 2025, are still awaited and the delay shows the irresponsible attitude of concerned staff which cannot be tolerated by the competent authorities,” the CPO said.

He told the SPs that in case of non-compliance the concerned dealing staff will be responsible and will be called to appear before the competent authority to explain the reason of delay.

The SIPs project is aimed to improve police stations in order to get rid of decades-old ‘thana culture’ and provide better service to the people. SIPs were designed with modern technology to provide citizens quick relief besides increasing the trust between public and police.

The sources said the RPO carried out an inspection of SIPs police station Pirwadhai on July 27 and found discrepancies in implementation of the protocol.

During the inspection, flags installed at Pirwadhai police station were torn; LCD for display of tasks was not working as per SIPs SOPs. Intercom was not installed in the police station, CCTV monitoring screen was not installed in the Muharrar office.

Moreover, the cleanliness level of the front desk in particular and the overall police station in general was not up to the mark, while the victim support officer (VSO) and guide constable were not available in the police station.

The inspection report of Waris Khan police station suggested that it needed to be repainted, no CCTV camera was installed in front desk and SHO office, printer installed in front desk was out of order, electric wirrings were hanging randomly. Only two out of six and three out of eight lights installed in the front desk and waiting room were working.

The guide constable as well as VSO was not aware of SOPs and soft initiatives of SIPs were not implemented.

The RPO carried out a surprise inspection of the City Police Station and noticed that the LCD installed for display of tasks was not working; the data was being displayed for March 13, 2025 instead of that day. Notice board, intercom and biometric doors for backend of the police station were not installed in the front end of the police station.

No CCTV cameras were installed in the SHO office, VSO room and investigation officer room. Electric wiring in front desk was not as per SIPs protocol that is wires were hanging randomly. The guide constable was also unaware of SOPs.

Water dispenser installed in the front desk was dirty.The VSO was not available in the police station and most of the lights installed in the corridor, investigation officer room and VSO room were not working. There were incomplete raid forms, arrest forms and custody forms in police station for the current year

Similar flaws were discovered at the Ganjmandi police station. Most of the lights installed in front desk and waiting area were out of order, the water dispenser was dirty and the sofas and chairs installed in the front desk and waiting area were broken. Muharrar had no record for petty cash provided for the maintenance of the front desk. Posting tenure of the front desk was more than six months.

In the police station Ratta Amral, the scenario was not different. The staff was not aware of SIPs SOPs, Q-Metric and token display counters were not working, Muharrar had no cash for maintenance of front-end of SIPs, internet connection of the front desk was disconnected and CCTV cameras were not working.

In the New Town Police Station, intercom and bio-metric doors were not installed, tiles affixed at the entrance of the police station were broken, and electric wires in the front desk were hanging randomly. LCD installed for display of tasks was not working as per SIPs SOPs. Sofas and chairs placed in Front Desk and waiting area were broken and the front end of the police station was not connected with the solar system.

In the Sadiqabad police Station, the VSO and guide constable were not available, staffers were not aware of SIPs SOPs. Moreover, printed copies of SOPs were not available. The CCTV monitoring screen was not installed in Muharrar office and the clerks did not have a record of petty cash.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2025