PESHAWAR, Nov 24: The federal government has approved 50 new platoons for the Frontier Constabulary and formation of a Quick Response Force to maintain law and order and enhance patrolling in troubled areas across the country.

Speaking at a press conference at his office here on Friday, Frontier Constabulary commandant Malik Naveed said 2,150 personnel would be recruited in the new platoons.

About the QRF, he said it would be a unique force with a new look. He said the force would be equipped with modern weapons and its Jawans, whose training would end next month, would be capable of dealing with any sort of untoward incident.

He said 203 Jawans for the force had been selected from the FC deployed across the country. He said they were being trained at the Elite Training Centre in Karachi. The training includes use of modern weapons.

Mr Naveed said installation of the new platoons would not only enable the FC to maintain law and order but also provide job opportunities to the youth.

He said the FC had recently closed down small routes in hilly tracks used by miscreants to flee after committing crimes, including car lifting. The routes, he said, were mostly in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat and Hangu.

After installation of the new platoons in the FC, the total number of platoons will reach 165. Training of the new recruits will be held in Peshawar, Shabqadar and Swat, which will start in March next year.—APP