ABBOTTABAD, May 25: Based on shared rights and responsibilities in the justice system and making police a people friendly forced, the Police Welfare and Community Partnership Programme was launched in Haripur under the banner of the Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE) funded by the UNDP.

The DTCE under its police welfare and community partnership programme include police consultative workshops, setting up police station monitoring system, establishing police-community relations centres and holding of open Kutcheries at the union council level.

The SSP, Haripur, Syed Feroz Shah formally inaugurated the programme. Also present on the occasion were the SSP, Mansehra, Wajid Zia, and Chief Executive Officer DTCE Yousuf Khan.

Mr Yousaf said that the project was aimed at changing the police force according to the new system and enabling them to work as people friendly.

He said that according to the new system the police was answerable to the public.

He said the pilot project would check the efficiency of the police at the union council level, which would be later introduced in other districts of the country.

Mr Shah said that an effective police force could play a vital role for development of the country as without controlling the law and order situation investors, especially foreigners, show reluctance in investment.

He asked the police force to change itself according to the Police Ordinance 2002.

He asked the district government to notify the District Public Safety Commission besides Musalihati Committees at the union council level.

He pointed out various problems faced by the police force at the district level.

He suggested an increase in the salaries of the police force equal to the salaries of the motorway police, increase police force annually on the basis of population, provision of a modern communication system to control crime and the latest equipment for controlling anti-riot activities.—APP