Rs87.9b allocated for Punjab police

LAHORE
THE Punjab government has allocated Rs87.9 billion for Punjab Police Department under the head of non-development (salary and other expenditures) with an additional allocation of Rs2.59 billion under the head of Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16 which represents an increase of Rs6.61 percent over budget estimates of FY 2014-15.
Punjab Police Department had received Rs81.6 billion for the year of 2014-15 under the head of non-development budget. A huge difference in the salaries of officers of same ranks has always been irritating for cops. The Punjab government has been creating a huge gulf within the police department in the name of new force in Counter-Terrorism Department.
Further categorising the ADP-2015-15, the government has allocated Rs1.7 billion for 102 new schemes out of the total Rs2.5 billion while the remaining budget of Rs921.512 million will be spent on the ongoing schemes for the construction of houses and offices.
The Punjab government had taken major initiatives in 2014-15 to deal with the threat of terrorism and to improve law and order.
These initiatives included Punjab Police Integrated Command and Communication Centre at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan, creation of Counter-Terrorism Force with 1,500 corporals, including 75 women, establishment of 80 police service centres, establishment of a special protection unit, police emergency response unit (Lahore Pilot) and Incentive package for families of police martyrs.
Despite the tall claims of top bras of the Punjab government, most of the projects were still not completed while a few completed have yet to produce substantial results. People are still braving the highhandedness of policemen.
The rule of might is right still dominant at police stations. The lives and properties of the citizens are not safe.
The targets set for the Fiscal Year 2015-16 include the construction of 28 police stations, the construction of New Traffic Police Lines at Manawan, GT Road, Lahore, construction of Traffic Police Lines No 2 at Lahore, construction of infrastructure for Counter-Terrorism Department in Punjab, establishment of institutional memory and knowledge management system to strengthen the capacity of Punjab Police Organisation and the Criminal Justice System, construction of 72 new police stations in Punjab, construction of Police Training School Rawat in Rawalpindi and construction of infrastructure for Public Facilitation Centres in Punjab.
During the FY-2014-15, the government claimed to have completed 29 police stations, constructed boundary walls around five police lines and established Forensic Science Laboratories at nine divisions.
The ongoing schemes under the head of ‘Housing’ include construction of barracks for police personnel at Lahore at the cost of Rs10 million, construction of married officers residence at PS Qila Gujjar Singh at the cost of Rs10 million, construction of residences in Lahore at the cost of Rs10.914 million, addition/alteration Bachelor Residences of Turkish Officials at EPTS, Bedian Road Lahore at the cost of Rs9 million, construction of residences (BS 1-10) at Lahore at the cost of Rs5 million, construction of 10 barracks and three hostels at Punjab Constabulary at the cost of Rs7 million, construction of residences for Lower Subordinates in Police Lines Multan and construction of 30 residences at Police Lines Vehari.
The new schemes to be started in the FY-2015-16 under the head of ‘Offices’ include construction of new police station (PS) in Gujjar Khan; PS Saddar Attock; PS City Talagang, PS Choa Saidan Shah; boundary wall of district lines Chakwal near barrack No. 01; PS Urban Sadar Jhelum, PS City Jhelum, PS Kot Momin, PS Sillanwali; PHP Post Bonga Saleh Okara; construction of PS City Jauharabad, and construction of PS Chuttiana, in TT Singh district.
Enhacement of existing security arrangements at police establishments in district Rajanpur and raising of Boundary Wall according to present scenario of terrorism at Regional Office Special Branch Bahawalpur are also among the new schemes.