ISLAMABAD: Amid no let-up in crime across the capital, the Islamabad police have introduced a number of commercial ventures, sources told Dawn.

The sources said the capital police had decided to set up a security company “Special Police Officer” to provide services of guards to private parties and were recruiting retired police officials for it. The company will provide security guards to business centres and important installations.

So far, the contracts for security arrangements through the retired personnel have been made with owners of a few installations, including a shopping mall, and the personnel were performing duties there. Besides, talks were underway with managements of other installations to provide them security guards.

Somehow, the business venture is also beneficial for the retired police personnel as it provides them jobs reducing their financial burden. Half of the contract amount received from the hiring parties is paid to them as salary, they added.

Fees for weapon handling, self-defence courses, community horse riding club etc., are received in cash, says official

The other business venture of the capital police is “Weapon Handling Course,” the officers said. In December 2023, training by the police and issuance of a certificate were made mandatory by police for those obtaining arm licences from the capital administration or the interior ministry.

The police charge Rs7,000 for the six-hour-long two-day training. The course includes weapon introduction, assembling/disassembling, handling, weapon grip, cleaning, positions, and 10 live weapon fires.

The cost of 10 bullets is included in the fee, however, the police charge them an extra amount against each round if the applicant wants to fire extra rounds, the officials said.

The police have also introduced “Self-Defence Course,” and the fee for the two-week course is Rs20,000 while Rs5,000 is charged for a day course.

Likewise, the police have also a business called “Community Horse Riding Club,” in which a monthly fee of Rs15,000 is charged for horse riding training.

The other business ventures of the police are a summer camp and a newly-introduced winter camp, respectively. The camps are organised for children after they pay a Rs25,000 fee for both the camps.

The fees for weapon handling, self-defence courses, community horse riding club and summer/winter camps are received in cash at the Police Lines Headquarters, the officers added.

Besides, the police also charge Rs4,000 and Rs2,500 for issuing cards for entry to Diplomatic Enclave. The card is made for a year and after its expiry it is renewed against the same fee.

When contacted, police spokesman Taqi Jawad told Dawn that the police had established Special Police Officer Unit for security guard services for different installations. Retired officials are recruited in the unit and deployed in the installations, he added.

Replying to a question, he said the amount collected as fee for Weapon Handling Course, Self-Defence Course, Community Horse Riding Club and Diplomatic Enclave entry cards were deposited in bank for which the police had a separate account. The amount is spent on the welfare of police personnel, he added.

When asked about transparency in the collection of the fees and its deposit, the spokesman expressed ignorance.

A police official said there was an account for police welfare in which officials also contributed to take loans.

The officials who do not contribute are not eligible for a loan, he added. There is a committee which reviews loan applications from the police welfare account. However, the committee always complains about shortage of funds, he said, adding applicants mostly received less amount than they had requested for.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2024