LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar on Friday declared female officers and officials as an integral part of the police force, saying they are being given equal opportunities for leadership representation including departmental promotion, posting on important seats.
IGP Faisal Shahkar expressed the views during a meeting with a 7-member delegation of the United State Institute of Peace (USIP) at Central Police Office here on Friday.
The IG Police said that in big cities of the province including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, women are being appointed as SHOs in police stations, while the establishment of women police station in Gujranwala will also be implemented soon.
Faisal Shahkar said that recently it has been decided to include two senior women police officers as members in the Punjab Police Executive Board to ensure adequate representation of the female officers in the Executive Board as well as benefit from the opinions of women officers in departmental decision-making. He said that women officers are being given commanding roles in field postings in all major cities of the province.
Mr Shahkar said that women officers can play an exemplary role in convenience women citizens and solution of problems, therefore more and more lady officers and personnel are being made part of the police force.
The IGP informed that in recent years, the number of women in Punjab Police has increased significantly, which is very plausible.
The delegation included Executive Director Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights Shafiq Chaudhry, Country Director USIP, Adnan Rafiq and Program Manager Komal Dilshad among others.
During the meeting, establishment of Women Police Council, it’s mobilization, objectives and other professional issues were discussed.
The United State Institute of Peace (USIP) delegation was briefed about the aims and objectives of the Women Police Council and the future plan of action. DIG Operations Waqas Nazir, DIG Headquarters Rai Babar and DIG Training Kamran Adil were also present on the occasion.
During the meeting, consultations were held regarding the future plan of the Women Police Council and other details including making it more active. Women members from other districts participated in the meeting through video link and expressed their views.