A new batch of officers were welcomed into the Pakistan police force on Monday at a police academy graduation ceremony in Islamabad.
A total of 408 graduating officers including 76 women officers successfully completed nine-month training at the Police College Sihala.
The 408 sub-inspectors were appointed out of about 70,000 applicants, including 76 women, through the Punjab Public Service Commission and the NTS test. Among the ASIs were one PhD scholar, 31 engineers while 34 held LLB, 17 MBA, 35 MSc, 22 MPhil and 48 MA degrees.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif attended the ceremony and appreciated the determination of the young people to serve the nation by joining the police.
Speaking at the passing-out parade, the chief minister said: “The Punjab government believes in merit and it is enough to prove that a labourer, who worked hard and secured a gold medal at the graduation level, joined the police to serve the nation.”
Expressing concerns over the alarming increase in sectarian violence and terrorist activities, he said terrorists were now targeting worship places and educational institutions.
“Now it is the duty of the anti-terrorism squad and the police department to prove their professional abilities to check such incidents.” He said people were afraid of criminals, robbers and terrorists and the police should create a sense of security among the citizens by showing their vigilance to maintain peace.
“We must be proud of the sacrifices of all those who lost their lives while defending the nation against terrorists.” The war on terror can only be won when there is social justice in society, he said.
The chief minister announced a special cash prize of Rs2.5 million for the officials who imparted training to the sub-inspectors. He also announced ‘big city allowance’ for the employees of the Police College.
