MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Azad Kashmir Interior Minister Col. (retd) Waqar Ahmed Noor on Thursday said that a substantial increase in salaries and allowances of the police department would be made during the upcoming fiscal year, as work is underway in this regard.
Addressing the AJK Legislative Assembly session, the most senior minister stated that the proposal is under process and the current government has provided ample resources to the Home Department.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to enhance police capacity, including the purchase of new vehicles and the construction of six new police stations.
“The ration allowance of the police has been increased three times, but it will be increased further,” he said in response to a call-to-attention notice by assembly member Raja Farooq Haider Khan.
In a call-to-attention notice, Former Prime Minister Farooq Haider highlighted the disparity in salaries and allowances of AJK police employees compared to their counterparts in other provinces of Pakistan.
He emphasized that police employees receive a meager Rs 60 per day, with other allowances, including transport and uniforms, frozen since 2005.
The former premier urged the government to provide all facilities to the police, considering their pivotal role in maintaining law and order, preventing crime, and fighting terrorism.
Responding to it, the home minister assured that the file is under process and a substantial increase will be made in the same budget. He said that the current government has included the money for uniforms for the police in the salaries of police employees.
Meanwhile, addressing the assembly session, PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir raised concerns about the delayed completion of the Liswa-Khadat Mukhian Road in Neelum Valley.
He demanded an investigation into the matter, which was assured by Minister for Roads Chaudhry Azhar Sadiq. The Minister stated that an investigation would be conducted and a response would be presented in the next session.
