Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police recognise that instilling a positive image of the police department in the minds of young Pakistanis is crucial for strengthening security in the country and through the American Embassy supported Summer Youth Camp, they were able to do just that.

Nearly 500 children participated in the annual camp. A highly successful six-week programme was conducted at the Islamabad Police Lines, funded by the US Embassy’s International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL) and was facilitated by the Department of Justice/International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Programme.

The programme brought 346 boys and 147 girls, ages six to 14 years of age, from Islamabad and Rawalpindi together for over a month of fun and games.

Watchful Islamabad police officers taught swimming, archery, horseback riding, gymnastics, first aid, traffic safety and martial arts.

These interactions provided a positive experience for the community to come together, meet local officers and see them as neighbours and fellow members of the community with families and values matching their own.

It also facilitated an open dialogue between the public and their protectors, helping to eliminate the sense of distrust that all too often exists from limited law enforcement interaction with the public.The first Summer Youth Camp was conducted in 2014 with 325 children attending. Today’s overall attendance record represents a 30 percent increase over the past four years in overall participation, demonstrating the tremendous success and popularity of this annual event with both parents and their children.

For almost 40 years, the United States and Pakistan have worked to improve citizen security and enhance police capacity across Pakistan.

The Bureau of INL works in more than 90 countries to help combat crime and corruption, counter the narcotics trade, improve police institutions, and promote court systems that are fair and accountable.

Published in Daily Times, August 7^th 2018.