ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The government spent over Rs40 billion to check crimes and the deteriorating law and order situation in the Punjab and Islamabad capital territory during the financial year 2005-06.

Ironically, the overall crime rate has been increasing since 2003 and such a huge spending has yet to bring anything positive and substantial on the ground.

Last year, the overall crime rate in Islamabad increased by seven per cent, according to the statistics of the police. The situation in Punjab could not see any improvement either.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Finance Omar Ayub Khan submitted to the

Senate details of the total spending of Rs59.57 billion on strengthening law and order in the country including the federal capital.

He said Rs19.316 billion were spent on security related measures and strengthening of the police department and infrastructure in the Punjab.

The bigger chunk of the money — Rs14.357 billion — went to the district police followed by Rs1.803 billion to “police direction” and Rs1.285 billion to the Punjab Constabulary.

An amount of Rs596 million was spent on the special branch activities and its development in the province, Rs327 million on police training institute and Rs57 million on superintendence.

Of the Rs20.957 billion spent to check crime rate, Rs1.635 billion went to the Islamabad police, while a mere Rs15 million was allocated to the district police.

A substantial amount of the total allocation — Rs11.011 billion — was spent on the frontier watch and ward activities and Rs562 million on coordination activities and joint projects with the provincial police.

A sum of Rs694 million was given to the immigration and passport department and Rs373 million to the narcotics control administration. The Coastal Guards also received Rs425 million, while Rs105 million was spent on training of the police force.

The written reply of the finance minister, however, does not explain the spending of Rs1.226 billion on what he termed “other activities”.

The government also spent over Rs4 billion each in NWFP and Balochistan to improve the law and order situation.

In Sindh, the spending touched a Rs10.906 billion figure.