LAHORE – Prize distribution ceremony of the first investigation course for policewomen was held at the Women Campus, Police Training School Choong on Monday. Around 20 policewomen ranging from ranks of ASI to DSP from all over Punjab successfully completed the course and are certified to work as SHOs and investigation officers.
Chief guest Additional Inspector General (AIG) Training, Punjab Police Sarmad Saeed Khan along with Principal Advisor of Gender Responsive Project Dr Khola Iram, the organisation which is working on increasing induction and training of policewomen distributed certificates and shields among qualifying policewomen. The graduating policewomen also received cash prizes.
Sub-Inspector Shazia Noureen from Sargodha bagged the first position, ASI Gulnaz Khalid from Faisalabad secured the second position while Sub-Inspector Nusrat Parveen from Muzzaffargarh secured the third position. Dr Khola requested Inspector General (IG) Punjab Police Javed Iqbal to depute the position holders as additional SHOs in their respective areas. AIG Training Sarmad Saeed appreciated hard work of trainers and persuaded them to open more training institutes for other policewomen, which cater to all parts of the country.
He congratulated participants of the course and motivated them to use their newly-acquired skills by choosing field postings to contribute to effective policing. Saeed also announced that he would take up the issue with the IGP to place the first three position holders of the course as additional SHOs and other qualified officers as investigation officers in various police stations.
The Advance Investigation Course for policewomen was organised by the Gender Responsive Policing Project (GRP), a joint venture of the National Police Bureau and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a federally-owned organisation supporting the German government in achieving its objectives in international cooperation for sustainable development with financial assistance of the German Foreign Office.
Purpose of this course is to provide most up-to-date training on investigation and interrogation on international standards to policewomen of various ranks by subject experts and highly professional trainers. The GIZ has provided a high-level learning environment by establishing well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching facilities and a forensic laboratory with all latest gadgets.
Policewomen have learned modern techniques and methods of interrogation which would bring them at par with their male colleagues. They have also learned to protect and cordon crime scenes without destroying evidence and reconstruct the crime scene for thorough investigation.
Dr Khola, who is heading the project, said that this campus was a major step to bring policewomen in mainstream policing by giving them necessary knowledge and skills that are required for field postings. To provide comfortable living conditions for policewomen, the GIZ has also assisted in renovation and refurbishment of women hostel.