KARACHI, Jan 7: The Rs26 million PC-1 for district safety commissions has been approved and Rs9 million has been released and distributed among the districts.

This was stated by provincial adviser to chief minister on home affairs, Aftab Shaikh while addressing the first meeting of district safety commissions held here at Tughlaq House.

The meeting was attended by the chairmen of nine district commissions, IGP and Secretary Home Affairs. Aftab Shaikh said that each districts would be given another Rs0.8 million. He said the safety commissions had been established in 12 districts and selection of chairmen of nine of them has been made.

The selection of chairmen for remaining three districts of Nawabshah, Naushahro Feroze and Khairpur would be made soon, he added. The chairmen, IGP and Secretary Home Affairs put forth their suggestions in the meeting and apprised the adviser about their problems. Assuring all the chairmen of his full cooperation, Aftab Shaikh said the notification delegating powers to them as Justice of Peace would be issued within a fortnight.

It was decided that this meeting would be held on quarterly basis and chairmen would have the authority to give approval to all expenditures. Each member would also be paid honoraria, Mr Shaikh said.

According to another decision, symposiums will be organized for generating mutual trust among police, commissions and general public. It was agreed that till the establishment of Police Complaint Authority and Provincial Coordination Committee, the IGP and Home Secretary would help solve the outlying problems. A 17-grade officer in each commission would work under the chairman. The chairmen proposed some modifications needed in the Safety Law and Police Order-2002.-APP