PESHAWAR, March 29: NWFP Inspector General Police Malik Mohammad Naveed on Saturday said that an anti-terrorist force, comprising 7,000 police personnel, would be established in the province soon.

Speaking at a meeting of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the IGP said that the new force would be armed with sophisticated weapons in order to overcome terrorism and extremism, and restore peace in the region.

He said an anti-kidnapping cell had been established and efforts were being made to further improve it. Commenting on the disrupted traffic system in the provincial capital, he said 250 sub-inspectors and 200 personnel would be posted on roads to regulate the traffic system.

The IGP said that special police force would be deployed at industrial estates during the next six to 12 months and the personnel would be equipped with latest weapons and bullet jackets. He said police would be deployed at all the entry and exit points of the industrial estates to ensure protection to industrialists.

IGP Naveed said data about criminals, including gamblers and those involved in the street crimes, had been collected and action against them would be taken soon. He requested the new government to allocate additional funds in the budget for the police department.

Earlier, SCCI President Haji Mohammad Asif appreciated the idea of formation of public committees to help maintain peace in the respective areas. Senior Vice-Chairman Sharafat Ali Mubarak said the increasing crime rate and waves of bomb blasts, kidnapping, robberies and anti-state activities had paralysed the economic activities and created unrest among the people. Following the bomb blasts, he said, the people were avoiding visiting bazaars.

Mr Mubarak asked for deployment of additional police force in parts of the city, ending of the traditional thana (police station) culture, formation of the coordination committees and issuance of licenses to shopkeepers. He also asked for action against the incompetent police officials and gave some proposals for maintenance of peace in the province. SCCI Senior Vice-President Inayat Kahn, former president Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Haji Mohammad Javaid also spoke on the occasion.