The Punjab government will recruit 15000 officials including 500 inspectors, 1000 assistant sub-inspectors, 1500 head constables, 9000 constables, 1000 drivers, 1000 wireless operators and 1000 class four employees to make police patrolling posts functional.
Well-informed sources told Business Recorder that each patrolling post will be equipped with four pistols, six G-III rifles, six SMG rifles, 10 bullet proof jackets, eight handcuffs, one mobile, four walkie-talkie sets and one vehicle for patrolling. According to sources, the Punjab government had approved funds amounting to Rs 296.335 million for the computerisation of the whole communications network and maintenance of record in 450 Police Patrolling Posts being set up in the province.
It may be mentioned that on January, 8, 2003 the Punjab government had decided to set up 450 patrolling posts across the province with the cost of Rs 6 billion in order to make highways and link roads safe and free from crimes like dacoity, robbery, kidnapping and public nuisance including use of pressure horns, play of music during driving and over speeding.
About 188 patrolling posts had already been made functional since November 2005 and the remaining would be functional before the end of 2006, and the government had to bear Rs 3 million for the construction of each double storey post over a sprawling area of 2900 sq feet.
According to sources, the design of buildings of Police Patrolling Posts is inadequate, as many flaws have been found in its construction. The Patrolling posts are lacking basic necessities including mess hall, recreational room, dinning corner and barracks to accommodate class-IV employees like police stations of the province.
These shortcomings, the sources claimed were also brought into the notice of the chief minister who ordered constitution of a committee headed by secretary communication and works to submit necessary recommendations.