ISLAMABAD, June 9: The government has allocated Rs24.5 billion for law and order and public safety in the budget 2007-2008.

The amount has been increased by seven per cent as compared to Rs22.9 billion of the 2006-2007’s budget.

According to the budget document, the major chunk of the allocated amount, Rs22.6 billion, will be spent on police against the current years allocation of Rs21 billion.

The document said Rs880 million would be spent on law courts, Rs68 million on fire protection, Rs18 million on prison administration and operation, Rs23 million on safety and Rs944 million on administration of public order.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao had said in several times in the past that the current spate of terrorism and suicide attacks in the country had made the job of law enforcers and security agencies more difficult and more resources were required for countering the terrorism.

Of total allocation of Rs24.5 billion, Rs9.5 billion will be provided to the interior ministry under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for security and public safety and administrative affairs of the security agencies.

Some of the new main project to be executed by the interior ministry in the next fiscal year include the construction of accommodation for two Wing Chanab Rangers in Sialkot with the cost of Rs113.6 million, repair of air conditioning system in Pak Secretariat and Foreign Office with Rs571 million and construction of accommodation for Swat Scouts at Warsak with Rs314 million.

Major ongoing projects of the interior ministry for the funds have been allocated in the budget 2007-2008 are: Construction of offices for chairmen standing committees in the parliament with the cost of Rs1.382 billion, Machine Readable Passport costing Rs3.562 billion etc.