GUJAR KHAN: The refurbishment of police stations in Jhelum district, under the Special Initiative Police Stations (SIPS) launched by the Punjab government, has transfigured the offices, waiting rooms, corridors, and even the working.

These refurbished police stations are manned by educated and computer-literate officials.

The offices, waiting rooms, corridors, and even washrooms, refurbished with quality tile work on floors and walls, with floral vases lined around, the beautiful paintings hanging on the walls around, quality sofas and furniture, the gadgets of computers in the offices and the front desks, and the biometric entry and exit of officials up to residential barricks, all present a beautiful look. The calm and tranquil working of polite officials gives reflection of a congenial working environment that is really unbelievable.

“The open-door policy in the well-maintained police stations, postings of master degree holders and law graduate as SHOs, investigators, and computer literate subordinates and regular monitoring by the district police officer and holding open katcheries have transformed the working of police, said Imran Hussain, Civil Lines police SHO.

Qamar Sultan, a postgraduate in political science working as SHO at the City Police Station, when questioned about interference from any political or departmental quarters, said that there was no hindrance in ensuring investigations on merits. Mr Sultan said that the crime ratio has been reduced and free investigations are giving satisfaction to the public and courage to the policemen.

Nasir Mahmood Bajwa, the District Police Officer (DPO) Jhelum, when contacted for his comments, said that Special Initiative Police Stations (SIPS) was yielding results and getting rid of traditional police mindset.

He said that seven police stations in his area of jurisdiction have been completely refurbished, while five others were partially refurbished, and work was in progress.

The officer attributed this transformation of police working and infrastructure to the inspector general of Punjab police, Dr Usman Anwar.

Mr Bajwa said that it was his duty to win the confidence of the public for his department. He said that regular public hearings at every police station, twice a week, give him first-hand knowledge about public issues, police performance, and crime control to the satisfaction of the higher authorities.

The DPO claimed that the crime ratio had been reduced, and detection of blind cases and recovery of contraband items and illegal weapons have been increased.

When asked about the beautification of the police stations, Mr Bajwa said that the initiative was playing a constructive role in promoting a soft and positive image of the police.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2025