Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced the increase in the salaries of the Islamabad police.
Expressing his thoughts, the premier emphasised the detrimental effects of political protests on Pakistan's economy, tracing their origins to the unrest of 2014.
"The politics of protests began in 2014 when rioters staged demonstrations at D-Chowk, digging graves in the process," he stated.
Sharif recalled that a visit from the Chinese President was canceled due to the protests that year, leading to a loss of billions of dollars for the economy. "The protest politics has inflicted severe damage on our national interests," he added.
He criticised recent acts of aggression against the federal government, labeling them as unconstitutional and illegal. "On one hand, we aim for national development, while on the other, groups are attacking the federal government. The use of petrol bombs and abusive language has become the norm," he remarked.
Praising the Islamabad Police and Rangers for thwarting attempts to incite violence, Sharif noted, "The rioters wished for bodies to fall and for chaos to spread nationwide, but our security forces successfully foiled their plots."
In a show of support for law enforcement, he announced reforms within the Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan police forces and expressed readiness to assist Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if needed.
"We are committed to ensuring that the Islamabad police receive equal salaries to their counterparts in Punjab," he declared, alongside a promise to provide executive allowances to police and administration officers.
PM Shehbaz also highlighted the need for financial support for the families of 64 police officers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, stating, "Only 20 of them received martyr packages; the remaining 44 will soon receive their due benefits."
He reaffirmed plans to transform the Safe City initiative into a Smart City, encouraging the Interior Minister to play a pivotal role in implementing these projects. Additionally, he announced the revival of a medal program for police officers and the swift resolution of pending cases.
While paying tribute to police constable Abdul Hameed, who lost his life during recent protests, Sharif praised the bravery of all Islamabad police officers. Addressing the Interior Minister, he insisted on immediate merit-based recruitment to address any shortages within the Islamabad police force.
