ISLAMABAD: After a gap of 14 years, 27 police stations in the federal capital were provided 30 new vehicles on Saturday to improve response time and mobility.

According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry handed over the keys to Islamabad police during a ceremony held at Police Lines.

The statement quoted Naqvi as saying that the concept of modern policing was impossible with non-functional vehicles.

“Only by meeting police requirements in line with the times can we achieve the desired results. These new vehicles will improve police response time,” he said.

He was further quoted as saying that all necessary resources were being provided to Islamabad police to ensure public safety and security.

“With the provision of resources, police will be able to perform their duties in a better manner,” he said.

He said construction and upgradation of all police stations in Islamabad was also underway and would be completed soon. The minister further noted that the use of electric vehicles was part of the government’s environment-friendly policy and would lead to a significant reduction in petroleum expenditure.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry said the new vehicles had been handed over to all 27 stations of Islamabad police, noting that the force had been using 14-year-old vehicles.

He further said that construction and rehabilitation work on the 27 police stations was ongoing and would be completed by this year.

The state minister added that 9,000 new personnel were being recruited to the police force to overcome the shortage of manpower, with merit being strictly ensured.

“With all these measures, we will make Islamabad police a model for the entire country. All these changes have come about in the last two years,” he said.