ISLAMABAD: American Ambassador David Hale officially delivered 10 ambulances worth almost 180 million rupees ($1.6 million) to the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) on Friday. The delivery underscores the American government’s long and fruitful efforts to support Pakistan’s law enforcement capacity and assist NHMP in its mission to promote safe and secure Pakistani highways.
Minister of State for Communications Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Secretary for Communications Furqan Bahadur Khan and NHMP Inspector General of Police Dr Kaleem Imam participated in the event.
Ambassador Hale praised NHMP, noting “Since 1997, [NHMP] has built a national reputation for honesty, professionalism, and public service. [NHMP’s] job is to save lives and help those in need, no matter the dangers – while maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards.”
David Hale also welcomed NHMP’s efforts to recruit and retain women into its police force, which has nearly four times as many policewomen on its force, as compared to the national average of all police organizations, a testament to NHMP’s culture of professionalism and inclusiveness.
NHMP will place the ambulances in strategic locations throughout Pakistan to respond promptly to emergencies. Four NHMP officers have also received international certification as master trainers on an emergency medical response from the American Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL), to train other police officers who are often the first responders to arrive at scenes of serious incidents.
For almost 40 years, the United States and Pakistan have worked to improve citizen security and enhance police capacity across Pakistan. This cooperation includes providing protective gear for police officers; constructing police training centres and other infrastructure; and training some 18,000 police personnel on an investigation, forensics, leadership, and modern policing practices.
