PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police is set to receive Rs13.5 billion to revamp its entire structure in the merged districts, while bullet-proof vehicles will be provided to regional and district heads to lead aggressive operations against local and international terrorist networks.
“The KP Police is to get Rs7 billion from the federal government and Rs6.5 billion from the provincial government for the construction of proper police lines, police stations, and posts, after we demanded a total of Rs23 billion for these buildings in the merged districts,” Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed told The News.
He said many police lines, posts, and stations lack proper buildings and even boundary walls, despite frequent attacks on police.The IGP said that the entire police infrastructure would be constructed in the former tribal districts using these funds in a way that would protect the police force from terrorist attacks, including those involving thermal imaging guns. In the first phase, all police posts, stations, lines, and other offices will be properly built in Khyber, Bajaur, Kurram, and Orakzai.
He added that regional police officers and district police officers at divisional headquarters will receive 15 bullet-proof vehicles by August, with more to be provided to DPOs in the second phase.
“We are also armouring single-cabin vehicles in the southern districts for police station staff and other officers. Additionally, thermal imaging scopes, more bullet-proof jackets, and other gadgets are being provided to police in the troubled areas,” said the police chief.
Specially trained sniper teams will also be formed at the district level to respond to emergencies.He said police had busted several major terrorist networks in recent months, while several key commanders had also been killed, contributing to an improvement in the province’s security situation.
“Some major rings and their members were eliminated in the southern districts in the past few weeks, which has reduced the number of attacks,” said the IGP. He added that 22 policemen had lost their lives in target killing incidents this year, fewer than in recent years.
According to Zulfiqar Hameed, foreign involvement was uncovered in many terrorist incidents, and a few foreigners from Central Asia were also apprehended. He said the concerned embassy was informed about the involvement of their citizens in IS-KP-linked terror incidents in KP.
He noted that progress in major cases was not made public, as it could affect the ongoing investigations.
“We are improving investigations, infrastructure, and providing the latest technology and training to our personnel to go after terrorists and criminals,” said Zulfiqar Hameed.The police chief said work on the Safe City Project for Peshawar would be completed by the end of the year, while similar projects for Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan are expected to be completed by March next year.
The Safe City Project was proposed for Peshawar in 2009, but no practical steps were taken for 16 years. Finally, a smaller version of the project was approved and work has now begun.According to the IGP, the department is also focusing on the welfare of the police force, especially the families of martyrs and those critically wounded in terrorist incidents. He said the issues of salary increases and the Martyrs’ Package had been taken up with the government.