Steps taken to strengthen police force in merged districts: CM

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday said that Rs7 billion had been provided to strengthen the police force in the merged districts along with the provision of 122 new bulletproof vehicles. 

“About Rs1 billion have been released for the provision of APC vehicles to the police in the merged districts to better equip them to handle the current situation,” he told a meeting on law and order here.

The meeting reviewed in detail the current security situation of the province, with a special focus on the southern and merged districts. Progress on providing vehicles and other essential gadgets to strengthen the police in these areas, and other related matters were also reviewed.

The chief minister said that 1,300 new vacancies have been approved to enhance the capacity of the police in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Lakki Marwat.

He directed the quarters concerned that local people be given priority in recruitment against these positions. The chief minister said that the quota for the children of martyred police personnel for the position of assistant sub-inspector had been increased by cent percent.

Gandapur laminated that in the past, not enough attention was given to strengthening the police. “The PTI government is focusing fully on this to ensure better law and order at all costs,” he added.

He also directed the authorities concerned to complete a survey of damage in the merged districts and compile accurate data for compensation further directing them to take steps to create maximum employment opportunities by implementing a new mining policy in the merged districts.

The chief minister ordered special attention to the provision of healthcare and education facilities to the people and that sports and other healthy activities be organized for the youth at the local level to keep them away from negative activities.

He emphasized that maintaining law and order is the biggest challenge, and to achieve this, everyone needs to work together.

“Local jirgas should be regularly held to resolve law and order issues, involving local elders and all other stakeholders,” he said, adding jirgas should be held with local elders and opinion leaders to resolve issues related to border trade.

Moreover, he directed the district administration across the province to hold open forums (Khuli Kutchehries) regularly, ensuring the participation of all departments and relevant elected representatives. The chief minister mentioned that the issues in Bannu and Lakki Marwat were resolved peacefully through jirgas, and out of the 16 points of the Bannu Peace Committee, 15 have been implemented. Furthermore, he said, due to the efforts of the administration, police, and local elders, a ceasefire has been achieved in Kurram, and now, in consultation with local elders, heavy weapons and posts will be removed from the area.

He praised the role of local elders, police, and administration in resolving law and order issues in the province and saluted the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army, police, and all citizens for peace in the province.

Gandapur also stated that the police in Buner and Chitral have been approved to take a leading role, while a jirga has been formed to ensure the fair distribution of gas and oil resources in North Waziristan.

The implementation status of the decisions made during the Tribal Grand Jirga, chaired by the chief minister last month, was also thoroughly reviewed in the meeting.