Daily Times

LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated Rs 88.6 billion for the police department in the provincial budget 2016-17. This year’s allocation was Rs 7 billion more than the sum allocated in the previous budget, where Rs 81.6 billion had been earmarked.

In addition to this allocation, the government has separately earmarked Rs 97.3 million for building and construction of the police department, an increase by Rs 17 million as compared to the previous budget. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the police has been allocated Rs 4.4 billion.

Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha said that the Punjab government had allocated Rs 88.6 billion for the police in Financial Year 2016-17, out of which Rs 72.9 billion would be spent on salaries of the staff while the remaining Rs 16 billion would be spent on other expenditures.

According to the budget statement, Rs 80.5 billion have been fixed for the Punjab Police, Rs 386 million for local police while Rs 2.201 billion would be spent for training purposes. Other civil armed forces would get Rs 4.719 billion while Rs 770.615 million have been allocated for other expenditures.

Similarly, Rs 3.710 billion have been fixed for the special branch, Rs 350.681 million for Qaumi Razakar Organisation and Rs 88 million for development works. Also, Rs 3.218 billion have been reserved for the Elite Force while 130.987 million would be spent on purchasing new transport. An amount of Rs 91 million would be spent on buildings and construction while Rs 166 million have been fixed for scholarships.

The Punjab finance minister said that the government had focused on changing the ‘thana culture’, adding that the people were still facing difficulties in police stations due to political involvement in the department.

She announced that the government would arrange special training courses for the police personnel with the help of Turkey, Germany and other countries, adding that the government would establish a police school for information and analysis department to monitor the performance of police.

Similarly, the Punjab government has allocated Rs 9.935 billion for Punjab Prisons Department. Out of the total sum, Rs 98.859 million have been fixed for direction, Rs 4.656 billion have been allocated for central jails, Rs 4.963 billion have been fixed for district jails, Rs 73.859 million have been fixed for lock ups, Rs 122.228 million have been allocated for construction of central jails while Rs 20 million have been fixed for other works. An amount of Rs 60 million would be spent on purchasing for new transport and Rs 474.69 million have been fixed for the purchase of plant and machinery.