GIVEN Pakistan’s dire circumstances, it is little wonder that law enforcement and security personnel are in constant danger — with some among them facing relatively higher risks than the others. This is especially true of the bomb disposal units in the country. The death of at least four BDU personnel of the KP police in an IED explosion near Peshawar on Monday shows the threat level faced by those working in this department. While these men were killed as they headed to the site of an earlier blast, several BDU men have died while defusing bombs, including Hukam Khan who was killed last year and who had defused hundreds of explosive devices in his career. Many more have been injured and some have lost body parts. It is unfortunate then that while BDU officers put their lives on the line to protect the people, neither the state nor society appears to be doing enough to recognise their efforts or to support them.

True, bomb squads themselves may be partially responsible. For instance, equipment to minimise the risks that BDU personnel face includes robotic systems to defuse explosives. However, it has been noted that BDU officers don’t always use the robots, and at times circumvent standard operating procedures. It must be ensured that whenever officers are deployed in the field, all procedures are followed. That said, the provincial authorities have dragged their feet over matters like compensating the men for their efforts. For example, bomb disposal officers in KP receive a pittance where allowances are concerned as compared to their counterparts in Punjab and Sindh. They must be compensated for the dangerous work they do and the state must constantly update their efforts by bringing in new technology and expertise to minimise the risk to their lives. This is true for bomb disposal units across the country.

In tragedies like the one on Monday, the state must care for the victims’ families and help them through difficult times. Most of all, the government and people must show their appreciation to boost the men’s morale and let them know that their efforts are not going unnoticed.