LAHORE: Punjab anti-terrorism minister retired Col. Shuja Khanzada unfolding a plan on Wednesday to divide the police into six different sections, said there would be a command and control centre, crime scene investigation wing, riot police, pool net police, Dolphin police and anti-terrorism wing.
Talking to reporters at his office the minister said the Punjab police’s division, in collaboration with Turkish police, was aimed at changing police station culture and making the force people-friendly.
He said police reforms would be introduced in phases and the process would complete in a year. He said in the first phase, 600 cameras would be installed at sensitive places in large cities for crime and traffic control.
Mr Khanzada said 70 international companies had contacted the department so far for installing cameras, pledging transparency in the award of contract.
Turkish police to assist the plan aimed at improving efficiency
He said the construction of integrated command and control centre in Lahore was continuing speedily, adding it would start functioning by December 2014.
Approval for setting up such centres in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan had also been sought and these facilities would start working next year, he added.
The minister thanked the Turkish government for posting IT experts in Punjab, saying they would stay here till the completion of IT-led training of police.
Also read: New Punjab police chief known for anti-terror expertise
About the pool net section, he said all police record would be computerised through it and the data on criminals would also be made available.
About Dolphin police (DP), he said they would have heavy bikes and equipped with modern weapons and communication gadgets. He added the Dolphin police would have the ability to immediately reach a crime scene and taking action in congested areas or amid heavy traffic.
The riot police, he said, would be provided special training for controlling the mob attacking public and private installations, the minister added.
Published in Dawn, July 3rd , 2014