Faisalabad police to intensify anti-drug drive, expand safe city surveillance

FAISALABAD, Oct 14 (APP): Regional Police Officer (RPO) DIG Inam-ur-Rehman Malik on Wednesday announced plans to intensify the campaign against drugs, particularly in educational institutions, expand Safe City surveillance through private-sector participation and strengthen security for businesses, women and foreign nationals.

Addressing representatives of the business community at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), he said combating drug abuse among students was a top police priority. He stressed that preventing addiction and rehabilitating affected children required a collective effort involving families, educational institutions, civil society and law enforcement agencies.

The RPO said Safe City cameras had helped reduce crime, adding that surveillance needed to be extended to housing societies, industrial units, commercial establishments, banks and other institutions. A special meeting would soon be held with private-sector representatives to explain the technical requirements for integrating their cameras with the Safe City system.

To improve coordination with traders, he announced that a police liaison officer would be designated to maintain regular contact with the FCCI. The proposal to hold quarterly open courts at the chamber would also be examined to facilitate the resolution of business-related complaints.

Malik assured the business community that police stations would respond promptly to complaints and that patrolling would be improved. Clarifying the status of the Dolphin Force, he said it had not been abolished but its personnel had been attached to respective police stations to improve coordination and operational efficiency.

He also pledged action against one-wheeling on Canal Road, professional begging and extortion, while assuring better security for women in markets and Chinese nationals and other foreign citizens. A confidential mechanism would be developed to enable traders and citizens to report extortion without compromising their safety.

The RPO further committed to visiting the Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development & Management Company (FIEDMC) every month to review security arrangements and address emerging concerns. He said his office had tripled verification checks on calls received through Police Emergency Helpline 15 to improve the effectiveness of emergency responses. A study would also be conducted to explore appropriate ways of handling disputes involving cheques and financial transactions.

Earlier, FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik said Faisalabad contributed around 20 per cent to Pakistan’s GDP and accounted for approximately 15 per cent of national exports. He highlighted the city’s expanding and diversified industrial base, stressing that effective law and order was essential for attracting investment and sustaining economic growth.

He urged the police to improve station-level practices and patrolling, expand Safe City surveillance through private-sector investment and take effective action against drugs, extortion and professional begging. He also called for better protection of women, businesses and industrial establishments.

During the question-and-answer session, business representatives raised concerns about public safety, policing and commercial security. FCCI Vice President Muhammad Yaseen thanked the visiting police officials, while the chamber’s president presented a commemorative shield to the RPO. Malik later recorded his remarks in the FCCI Visitors’ Book and participated in the chamber’s podcast programme.