RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: In order to provide some respite to police officials of the Lahore division from soaring prices of daily-use items, the Punjab police has decided to set up a ‘Utility Store’ at the Police Lines (Qila Gujjar Singh) offering commodities, garments and other house-hold items on subsidized rates.

Talking to Business Recorder on Wednesday, Hammad Raza, spokesman of DIG Operations Dr. Haider Ashraf revealed that this project will be helpful to improve the purchasing power of police officials belonging to all ranks.

He said SP Headquarters Ghulam Mubashir will be the overall in-charge of this project. “The SP had moved the request to the Pakistan Utility Stores Authority for setting up of a store at the Police Lines”, he said. After the negotiations, they have now finalized the price lists, he added.

He claimed that almost 8000 cops and their families are living at Police Lines. “A major chunk of their salaries is spent in purchasing the household items which creates difficulties for them at end of the month. Around 32000 police officers performing their duties in the Lahore division may purchase essential daily-use items from this store”, he claimed.

DIG Haider claimed that such welfare initiatives would bring a new change in police culture as the store will be made functional at the earliest.