KP CM approves Rs5.5bln for strengthening police force

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, has directed the immediate release of Rs 5.5 billion to meet various needs of the police force , reinforcing law enforcement in the province.
According to an official handout, he issued the directives while chairing an important meeting on police affairs held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Abid Majeed, and senior officials from the Finance Department and police.
As per details, the meeting decided to immediately allocate Rs 3 billion for the bulletproofing of police vehicles and the procurement of modern equipment.
Additionally, Rs 1.3 billion will be provided to establish Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams equipped with modern technology at the district level, along with securing police stations and check posts.
Furthermore, Rs 500 million will be utilized for the completion of police station construction projects under the Annual Development Program, while Rs 720 million will be used for the purchase of night vision goggles, sniper rifles, and other critical police equipment.
The Chief Minister also approved, in principle, a plan to bring the salaries of KP police officers in line with their counterparts in Balochistan and to match police personnel salaries with those in Punjab.
During the briefing, it was revealed that Balochistan police officers currently receive the highest salaries among all provinces, while Punjab police personnel receive higher salaries than any other region.
Expressing his views, the Chief Minister emphasized that maintaining law and order remains the top priority of the provincial government.
Given the current security landscape, he stressed the need to strengthen the police force in every possible way. He reiterated that from the outset, the government has allocated significant resources to enhance police capabilities and will continue to prioritize funding for law enforcement needs.
Highlighting the sacrifices and bravery of the KP police force in combating terrorism, the Chief Minister assured that there would be no compromise on security measures.
He reaffirmed that financial constraints will not hinder the fulfillment of police requirements, ensuring that officers are fully equipped to tackle present and future security challenges.