‘Efforts afoot to develop police force on modern lines’

The Sindh police chief has said that efforts were being made to enhance capacity building of non-combatant forces on modern lines in view of the persisting terrorism threats being faced by the whole nation.

Addressing a session organised at the Sindh Police Headquarters on Friday to mark Martyrs Day (Youm-e-Shuhada) in recognition of sacrifice made by the cops falling victim to terrorism, IGP AD Khowaja said concerted efforts were being made for capacity building of the provincial police force.

"Equal attention is being given to well equip them and update their professional capacities to counter terrorism that the entire country is currently exposed to," he said. He also referred to protective helmets and vests arranged only recently for cops with the support of the US State Department.

Khawaja said police officers and personnel had been actively engaged in the fight against crime and terrorism across the province and, therefore, they had now been exposed to more threats.

"This also involves risk to their lives and we only in the first seven months of the current year lost 14 of our colleagues including unarmed traffic policemen," he said. Recalling that they were targeted by criminal and terrorist groups, the IGP said it was, therefore, incumbent upon the department itself to ensure improved protection of the cops without any compromise in their responsibilities.