Inspector General (IG) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Salahuddin Mehsud said on Wednesday that the provincial government would recruit 3000 policemen to safeguard the projects related to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Talking to media persons during his visit to DI Khan, Mehsud said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had sanctioned Rs 700 million for the security plan of the CPEC, the sanctioned funds would be used for recruitment of 3000 additional policemen, procurement of arms and purchase of vehicles besides taking other necessary measures to provide fool-proof security to the route.
As part of security strategy, he said that 4200 police guards would be put on standby to back and provide effective response in case of security-related issues. The IG said police force was committed to ensuring lasting peace across the province by defeating militancy in all its forms but these efforts be supplemented through joint efforts by all institutions and people to achieve the desired goal. He also eulogized and appreciated performance of KP Police, saying it was a committed and valiant force, rendering matchless sacrifices to ensure peace.
Therefore, he said, terror incidents have declined by 75 percent in the province as compared to 2014. He said that coordination between related institutions was being strengthened further to eliminate terrorism and more than 1300 terrorists were brought before the court of law in two years, he added. The police chief said that new Police Act 2017 was being implemented in letter and spirit under which police force would be made more transparent and answerable to the public.
Referring to KP government's policies and initiatives for strengthening the police force, he said the department was, now, depoliticized with a transparent and merit-based system in vogue, adding no leniency would be shown over negligence. Moreover, he said KP police was being geared up through provision of modern gadgets for effectively countering challenges of terrorism and crime, adding the government was diverting more financial resources in this regard.
As far as the particular district was concerned, the Chief of KP Police directed the police to keep close liaison with the citizens whose property and life would be protected at all costs and no negligence would be tolerated in this regard. He assured his full support and cooperation to the district police for ensuring durable peace, adding their skills and capability would be enhanced further and training centers would soon be established in remote districts including Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan as part of such efforts.
The police chief was also taken round the desk of the newly designed SMS system known as Police Access Service (PAS), saying the initiative would help address public complaints promptly. Earlier, he held meeting with members of civil society and urged them to come forward and contribute in collective efforts for promoting religious harmony, brother-hood and peace in society. Besides members of civil society and officials of relevant departments and organizations, Regional Police Officer (RPO), Syed Fida Hassan Shah was also present on the occasion.