LAHORE: On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Women Police Squad has been deployed in markets for the protection of women and children and patrolling has been started across the province.
The squad will patrol markets during peak hours on foot, bicycle and motorbikes. It will prevent incidents of harassment of women coming for shopping in markets. It will monitor the activities of anti-social elements. Due to Eid rush in markets, the squad will help prevent incidents of snatching mobile phones, wallets and robberies. The Women Police Squads have started patrolling major commercial centres in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Chiniot, Burewala, Vehari, Khanewal and other cities.
A special squad of the Dolphin Police has also been deployed in Lahore. Dolphin’s Quick Response Cycle Squad has been deployed at 65 major commercial centres in Lahore.
The Cycle Squad is performing patrolling duties in DHA Raya Club, Ichhra, Anarkali and Liberty Market. The Dolphin Bicycle Squad and the PRU Squad will also be deployed along with the Quick Response Cycle Squad. More than 4,000 police personnel will be deployed on special duty across Lahore. The Friendly Unit of Dolphin Police will patrol markets after Iftar till the markets close. The women squad has also been fully mobilized in Okara.
The CM said: “Protection of women and children is not only the foremost responsibility of the government but of the entire society as well. The protection of women in bazaars and streets will be ensured in all circumstances. It is easy to inform women police personnel about incidents of harassment.”
Women have acknowledged that after the establishment of the women squad, they are feeling safer in crowded markets and bazaars.