KHYBER: The Khyber police are undergoing intense training in the use of modern weapons as part of efforts to boost their professional capabilities and select sharp shooters for the upcoming provincial police shooting competition.

A statement issued from the district police officer’s office in Shahkas Jamrud said that SP investigations Shafeeq Khan was conducting the weapons training at the firing range of the police training centre.

The police personnel are being imparted training in the proper use of Kalashnikov, thermal weapons, sniper rifles and night vision devices. “These training sessions not only enhance the cops’ firing capabilities but also enable them to timely tackle an untoward incident,” the statement said.

The ongoing training would help Khyber police effectively tackle changing security situations, modern threats pertaining to terrorism and emergency situations.

During the training, sharp shooters were also selected for the range level shooting competition.

FACILITATION CENTRE: Officials at the Shahkas training centre said that as many as 13,671 residents of Khyber had approached the police Sahulat (facilitation) centre for various purposes during the last 10 months.

Wajid Khan, the centre in-charge, told Dawn that separate desks had been established for acquisition of driving licence, character certificate, overseas certificate, arms licence, clearance certificates and recovery of lost computerised national identity cards (CNICs).

He said that 3,750 applicants had received their arms licence, and 3,740 had acquired new driving licences with another 232 attending classes to learn driving since the facilitation centre was established in April last year.

The official said that 2,426 applicants, mostly students, were issued character certificates while another 1,300 had their lost CNICs traced.

The centre’s staff helped 1,006 individuals obtain their clearance certificates, while 802 drivers had their driving licences renewed with 330 people interested in travelling abroad were issued overseas clearance certificates, the official said.

Mr Khan said the number of applicants was increasing as people had developed a trust in the centre’s ability to process their applications promptly.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026