Determined to make country economic power by 2025: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said that the government is determined to make Pakistan a major political power by 2025.

He said this while addressing a seminar in the capital.

Ahsan Iqbal said that the rival political powers mock the government by saying it is too partial towards building roads. Roads, infrastructure and means of communication are crucial for the economy of a country, he added.

While reflecting on the government’s aspirations to turn Pakistan into a major economy, the federal minister said that the road-map 2025 has been divided into three phases.

He said that Karachi, which is the economic hub of the country, has seen improvement in terms of law and order.

The interior minister said that Pakistan as compared to 2012 has witnessed a major curb in terrorism, adding that the country gave great sacrifices for eliminating terror.

Moreover, Ahsan said that the government would allocate Rs 2 billion in the upcoming budget 2018-19 for the construction of a dedicated hospital for the Islamabad police.

Addressing a darbar of Islamabad Women Police here at the police lines, Ahsan said that there must be a separate hospital for the capital’s police where its personnel could be provided with medical facilities.

The darbar was attended by Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sultan Azam Temuri, police officers and a large number of women police personnel.

He said that the basic objective was to ensure a modern hospital for the capital police like other law enforcement agencies which had their own hospitals in different parts of the country.

“We are taking this initiative from the federal capital and I hope other provinces would also follow and construct dedicated hospitals for their police force,” said the minister.

He further said that Rs 1 billion would also be allocated for setting-up an Anti-Riot Force which has been announced a few months back.

The minister assured that Islamabad police would be made an exemplary force for other law enforcement agencies with their performance and support from the community.

Ahsan said that of the total 22, 7 model police stations had been established in capital and the same pattern might be replicated in other parts of the country, while the remaining would also be made model police stations in the next phases.

“I congratulate the Islamabad police over the completion of this vision,” said the minister and added that citizens can visit police stations without any fear to get their issues resolved, especially without any help from contacts.

“Every citizen should be treated as a Very Important Person (VIP) at these police stations,” he told the police force.

Further on, the minister stressed for the community’s cooperation to ensure successful policing and said that the prime task of a policeman should be to protect and assist the aggrieved including children, women and other marginalized segments of the society.

Ahsan directed the IGP to enhance the current 2.5 ratios of women personnel in the capital police’s total strength with the help of facilities such as a daycare centre, transport and accommodation for them.

He also appreciated induction of women in the Counter-Terrorism Force (CTF) Islamabad and congratulated them on choosing a profession which provides protection to citizens.

Sultan Azam Temuri said that the strength of women in the capital police is 289 which is around 2.5 per cent of the total force.  Their strength in Islamabad police would be enhanced to 10 per cent.

The IGP informed that a separate WhatsApp group of women police personnel has also been established where they can share their problems and get them addressed.