Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi on Friday presided over a high-level meeting to review the overall law and order situation in the province and deliberate on the future strategy.
The meeting was briefed in detail on the current security challenges, ongoing operations, and the performance of the police and CTD.
Reaffirming the government’s firm stance, the Chief Minister stated that the protection of the lives and property of citizens is the top priority.
He paid rich tribute to the sacrifices of the Police Force and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), stating they are “unforgettable.”
He emphasized that recent terrorism incidents demand improved measures and directed departments to act under a comprehensive strategy, utilizing all available resources effectively.
“In the fight against terrorism, we will not leave our forces at the mercy of anyone. No one will come from outside to fight our battles; we have to handle the situation ourselves,” the Chief Minister asserted.
He expressed full confidence in the capable human resources of the province and assured that the provincial government stands with the security forces at all times.
Issuing special directives, the Chief Minister ordered foolproof security arrangements for Khatm-ul-Quran gatherings during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak. He also instructed authorities to expedite the recruitment process for over nine thousand vacant positions in the police department, ensuring it is completed before Eid.
The Chief Minister directed the formulation of an official policy for providing artificial limbs to personnel affected by terrorism. “We will provide all possible assistance to the youth who put themselves at risk for the nation,” he stated.
The meeting decided that the matter of declaring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a “hard area” would be taken up with the federation again to ensure appropriate benefits for the forces.
Briefing the participants, officials stated that the Safe City Project Peshawar is ready for formal inauguration. Projects in Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, and Lakki Marwat will be ready by March 31. PC-Is for Karak, Tank, and North Waziristan have been sent to the Home Department, while plans for merged districts will be included in the new fiscal year.
An in-principle decision was made to integrate CCTV cameras from the Excise Department, Dastak data, BRT, Local Government, and Education Department with the Safe City Project.
The Chief Minister directed relevant departments to hold meetings and take practical steps in this regard, adding that public awareness is essential for the project’s success.
To ensure consistent monitoring, the Chief Minister decided to convene weekly meetings to review the law and order situation.