NAP top panel to review security today

LAHORE: The Central Apex Committee on the National Action Plan (NAP) is scheduled to meet today in Islamabad to review a comprehensive set of initiatives to improve security and law enforcement in Punjab and other provinces.

The Punjab chief secretary will brief the committee on agenda items, including large-scale infrastructure projects and manpower recruitment to enhance policing and public safety. One of the key items on the agenda is the establishment of Safe Cities Projects at Rs21 billion. This includes the establishment of Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication (PPIC3) centres in Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi, where significant progress has already been made with an investment of over Rs10 billion. Additionally, the Smart Safe Cities initiative will be implemented in two phases. Phase-I, at Rs5 billion, will cover 18 districts by December 31, 2024, while Phase-II, with a budget of Rs5.6 billion, will start in late January, covering 19 districts.

The committee will also discuss the expansion of the police force, particularly creating a Riot Management Police (RMP) unit in Punjab, which will comprise 5,000 personnel. A draft of the “Right to Peaceful Protest Act, 2024,” proposed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), is under consideration, with plans to recruit 2,000 new officers and allocate 3,000 existing personnel to meet the force’s needs. Furthermore, the recruitment of 6,000 constables for the Punjab Enforcement Regulatory Authority (PERA) will be reviewed, with 5,000 additional officers expected to join later.

The strengthening of the Border Military Police (BMP) and Baloch Levy in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur at Rs500 million will also be briefed, particularly in light of the relaxation of recruitment bans against vacant posts in these districts. Another major point for discussion is the reinforcement of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and security in bordering districts, at an allocation of Rs3 billion. The Punjab government has released Rs214 million for the procurement of quadcopters, Rs527 million for the renovation of border posts in Sargodha and DG Khan region and Rs600 million for the procurement of M4 or equivalent rifles for CTD. The Punjab government has approved Rs1.9 billion to procure the latest equipment for the CTD Punjab to enhance its operational capability and efficiency.

The committee will also review the establishment and extension of Inter-Provincial Joint Check Posts (IPJCPs), which are being developed at a cost of Rs5 billion. They would improve cross-border security coordination, with 14 such posts planned across the country, several of which are aligned with both federal and provincial requirements. However, the committee is awaiting approval for land acquisition for some check-posts, particularly in Mianwali.

In terms of border security, the meeting will address the repatriation and mapping of Afghan Citizen Cardholders (ACC), with focus on the ongoing phase of voluntary and involuntary repatriations. A decision on the next phase of the repatriation process is pending from the federal government.

The Punjab government’s efforts to secure foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens, will also be highlighted. The provincial government has established a fleet of vehicles, including coasters and vans, for the security of foreign delegates, alongside a series of technological and infrastructure enhancements such as the procurement of quadcopters and rifles for the CTD. Significant funds, including Rs1.9 billion, have been allocated to improve operational capacity and security in Punjab.

Finally, the establishment of District Coordination Committees to oversee the implementation of NAP will be discussed, with the Home Department moving forward with a proposal to establish the committees across districts, following the example set by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.