ISLAMABAD, March 5: The government has formally approved recruitment of 2,000 personnel to the capital police as part of the police revamping plan, an official source told Dawn.

Out of these 2,000 recruits, 1,838 are uniformed personnel, while the rest are clerical staff. They would be posted to the Security Guard Division and Police Division. The government had already approved Rs2.4 billion for the revamping plan out of which Rs172 million had been released for the first phase.

The local police had recruited 1,105 constables and 415 ASIs out of these 1,838 posts after Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz gave the approval in February. A senior police official said training was being imparted to these recruits and they would shortly join the force. A 600 strong anti-riot force would be selected from these 1,838 personnel.

Out of the 2,000 sanctioned posts, one DIG, four SPs, eight ASPs/DSPs, 54 inspectors, 130 SIs and 415 ASIs would be transferred to the Capital City Guard from other departments, while 415 ASIs and 1,105 constables were recruited. The capital police had demanded Rs2,436,713,588 for the revamping plan but the government approved Rs172 million and dismissed a proposal for additional pay and allowances for the Security Guard Division.

The police had also submitted a summary for recruitment of 2,400 security personnel out of which 1,400 personnel were to be inducted into the Security Division, while the remaining 1,000 personnel were to be posted to the Police Division.