RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI: Announcing 10,000 new jobs in Police, the Sindh government has earmarked Rs 93 billion for law and order in the financial budget for the year 2017-18. The proposed amount is about 10 percent higher than the allocation of Rs 84.26 billion for the same in the current financial year.
In terms of resource allocation, the share of Home Department, including police, jails, rangers and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) is the second largest.
“Our country has been subjected to decades of instability and uncertainty. This is the result of bad policies, meddling neighbors and a significant proportion of the population succumbing to the ideals of a violent and distorted version of religion, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Syed Murad Ali Shah, presenting the budget proposals for next fiscal year 2017-18.
He said that law and order remains the top priority since they all were trying their best to make country safe for all its citizens regardless of caste, creed and religious affiliation. He said the brave men and women who valiantly give up their lives in order to preserve our freedom can never be repaid in any form.
Shah urged that all should make some efforts to alleviate to some degree, the suffering of their families and loved ones left behind. He said that at the same time, strengthening the law enforcement agencies through trainings and equipment is at the forefront of our fight against terrorism.
“It is proposed that a total of 10,000 new posts of different ranks are created in Sindh Police and rupees 2 billion be allocated for purchase of transport for Sindh Police in the financial budget for 2017-18,” he announced.
He said Forensic Lab at an estimated cost of Rs 2.6 billion is being constructed to provide Sindh Police state of the art centre to investigate and solve complex crimes. He said Rs 280 million have been proposed in the budget for establishment of Intelligence School and Data Center for Sindh Police. Reception rooms will be established in all police stations of Sindh. Reception rooms are designed to portray a softer image of Police. In addition, some 3000 posts are proposed for security of CPEC-related projects.
“The capacity of Special Security Unit (SSU) is proposed to be enhanced by inducting 1000 personnel. Similarly, rupees 2 billion are being proposed for procurement of security-related equipment including hi-tech precision arsenal,” he said.
Murad Shah said a feasibility study of Rs 200 million would be carried out for installation of security cameras in major cities of the province.
“We are making efforts to improve our prisons. It is high time that we convert our traditional prisons in correctional facilities,” he said, adding that the budget of prisons is being enhanced to Rs 4 billion in the budget. This reflects an increase of 19 percent as compared to the allocation for current financial year. Rs 195 million are earmarked for installation of CCTV cameras in various prisons of Sindh.
Sindh Chief Minister recognized the sacrifices made by brave and selfless security personnel saying that as a token of gratitude Rs 1000 million have been disbursed during current fiscal year as compensation amongst the families of martyred cops and injured personnel of the security forces.
“Pakistan Army has imparted training to 3000 newly-recruited police. Rupees 300 million have been utilized for the purpose,” he said, adding that Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) was provided Rs175 million for purchase of new vehicles.
