Home secy briefs British High Commission delegation on security, welfare initiatives

LAHORE, Jul 07 (APP):A delegation from the British High Commission in Islamabad visited the Punjab Home Department on Tuesday and met Home Secretary Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi to discuss the province’s law and order situation, security cooperation and ongoing public welfare initiatives.

The delegation, led by First Secretary (Justice and Home Affairs) Gemma Wilson, also included Head of the British High Commission Office in Lahore Ben Warrington and Programme Officer Saddiqa Batool.

The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, including, measures to curb human trafficking, the professional capacity of security institutions, the use of modern technology in policing, border security, prison reforms, countering violent extremism and anti-narcotics efforts.

Home Department Special Secretary Zainab Khan, Punjab Additional Inspector General Operations Muhammad Ali Nekokara, Probation and Parole Director General Shahid Iqbal, Additional Secretary Ejaz Cheema, Additional Secretary Internal Security Maham Asif Malik, Additional Secretary Foreign National Security Uzma Saleem, Additional Secretary Financial Action Task Force Ayesha Mumtaz, Additional Secretary Judicial Abdul Rauf and other senior officials were also present.

Briefing the delegation, Dr. Ahmad said the Punjab government was making the province safer through the use of modern technology while strengthening the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies to ensure durable peace and effective maintenance of law and order.

He said construction of 14 modern inter-provincial border check posts was in its final stages to establish an effective border security system.

The Home secretary said protection and welfare of vulnerable segments of society remained the top priority of the Punjab government. He added that the Punjab Home Department’s Cyber Patrolling Cell was actively working to curb online incitement and sectarian content on social media. He said the Punjab government was successfully implementing a Rs22 billion programme under which mosque imams received a monthly honorarium of Rs25,000.

Highlighting prison reforms, Dr. Ahmad Qazi said the government was undertaking multiple initiatives to rehabilitate inmates by providing technical and vocational training to help them become economically self-reliant and productive members of society.

He said the Civil Defence Resilience Corps had been modernised in line with contemporary requirements, adding that more than 350,000 volunteers had been registered and were undergoing phased training.

The Home secretary said the Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism was playing an active role in preventing extremism, while a comprehensive public awareness campaign was being carried out alongside enforcement measures to combat narcotics.

He added that the Punjab Home Department was also taking effective measures to ensure the protection and welfare of children in addition to strengthening national security.

The British High Commission delegation appreciated the Punjab government’s social welfare initiatives. The delegation also reviewed products manufactured by prison inmates and praised the inmate rehabilitation and vocational skills development programme.