ISLAMABAD: Submitting to the Pakistani interior ministry’s demand, the police in the federal capital recently returned 30 percent of the Rs5.1bn annual budget, leaving them with no option but to rely on funds generated through different sources, which, according to law, are illegal.
The cut came after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered all government departments to surrender some amount from their annual budget in the last quarter of this fiscal year.
Though the Central Police Office (CPO) tried to convince the interior ministry in March to review its decision as it was difficult for them to return Rs987m, their request was turned down.
Sources at the CPO said the interior ministry was also reminded that 90 percent of the allocated amount was utilised on payment of salaries to 9,677 personnel from the inspector general of police to constable level.
The sources said that after surrendering the amount to the finance ministry, the police department was relying on “welfare funds” that it had generated through different “means” to meet their expenses.
They maintained that the security wing raised Rs2m per month through security passes they issued for the Diplomatic Enclave after charging Rs1,000 per pass. Besides, they raise thousands of rupees by offering additional police forces to embassies for security, the sources said.
Similarly, they raise thousands of rupees for issuing clearance certificates to the contractor and staff of the shuttle service to the enclave and other people working there.
INTERNEWS
