Command & control centre to check crime: CM

LAHORE
CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting here Monday which reviewed law and order in the province, project of setting up Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre and the measures taken for elimination of terrorism under national action plan.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said the Punjab government was taking all-out measures for the protection of life and property of citizens and improvement of law and order. He said timely effective measures had been taken under national action plan against terrorism and extremism, evolved with national consensus, and encouraging results were being witnessed. He said the project of setting up Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre was of vital importance for controlling crime and the project would also be started in Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala and Faisalabad under a phased programme.
The chief minister issued instructions for improving the security of worship places in the province and said that not only additional force be deputed at sensitive places but special attention should also be paid in this regard. He said indiscriminate action against publication and distribution of hate literature should be continued and the law regarding a ban on loudspeaker and wall-chalking should be strictly implemented. He said that provocative speeches could not be tolerated and indiscriminate action should be taken under the law against the elements delivering such speeches as there was a need for promoting sentiments of brotherhood, peace and tolerance in society.
He said that under the project of setting up Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre, all police stations of Lahore would be integrated with the centre and the modern command and control centre would help in keeping a watchful eye on criminal elements and miscreants through digital monitoring of the city.
He said modern command and control centre would not only result in substantial improvement in law and order but also in the monitoring of streets and bazaars through digital technology. He said that improvement of law and order and protection of life and property of citizens was the top priority of the government and resources would continue to be provided for this purpose.
He said that protection of life and property of citizens was the responsibility of police and it would have to perform its duties with efficiency and commitment. He directed that all the institutions concerned should perform their responsibilities through excellent coordination. He said that search operations should be accelerated in an effective manner in Lahore as well as other areas of the province and modern technology should be fully utilised for this purpose.
Roads Programme: Shahbaz Sharif has said that Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme is a game changer for rural economy.
He said a sum of Rs150 billion would be spent on construction, repair and rehabilitation of rural roads in the province during next three years under Pakiyan Sarkan-Saukhay Painday programme. He said that revolutionary project of Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme would result in development of rural economy on permanent basis.
Shahbaz Sharif was presiding over a meeting here Monday, which reviewed progress of Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads programme. He said the project of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads was the biggest project in the history of the country, which would change the destiny of rural areas and lakhs of job opportunities would be created. He said the roads project would facilitate farmers in taking their produce to markets while means of communication would also improve.
He said a separate Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Authority would be set up for implementation of this programme. He directed that in order to protect roads, necessary measures should be taken to check the entry of overloaded vehicles on rural roads. He said proper drainage system was essential for the maintenance of roads.