A special helpline will be set up for people to provide the police information on crimes like extortion and kidnapping for ransom and persons suspected of terrorism, Caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi told in a meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday.
He directed police to set up the helpline on priority basis and submit a report to him in this regard. Modern technology should be used to improve the law and order situation, he said.
He hoped that the helpline would allow people to give information regarding the occurrence of crimes without any repercussions as it would protect their identity, he said.
Policemen should be in the field instead of sitting in their offices all day, he said. Complaints coming to police stations must be addressed immediately. Improved law and order in the province would also allow the government to hold transparent and peaceful elections, he said. No efforts would be spared to ensure security to political leaders, processions and rallies, he said. Strict action would be taken against those caught firing in the air and displaying weapons, said Sethi. The candidates who violated the Election Commission’s code of conduct would also be punished, he said.
Relief for earthquake victims
The Punjab government has sent relief items for those affected by the devastating earth quake in Balochistan, Sethi said. “We will stand by our Baloch brothers and sisters in this hour of distress and will help the earthquake victims generously,” he said.
Trucks carrying food supplies and tents had been dispatched towards the worst hit areas and a special team of PDMA doctors was on their way to provide assistance to the victims, Sethi said.
Restoration of historical sites
In another meeting with Provincial Minister for Archaeology and Tourism, the Planning and Development Board chairman and the Walled City Project’s director general, Sethi reviewed the progress of projects to restore and preserve historical sites in the city.
These sites were part of the national heritage and preserving them was a national responsibility, Sethi said. He said the Archaeology Department needed to enhance its capacity. The pace of work on the restoration of historical sites should be accelerated, he said.
He directed that a committee be formed to review the matters involving these spaces, the preservation and restoration of historical sites and take steps to promote public and private partnership.
For this purpose, funds would be provided for several archaeological projects at Harappa, he said.
The Archives Department’s director general said a project to restore Noor Jehan’s Tomb was being drawn in collaboration with the Archaeological Department, DHA and the Communication and Works Department. The renovation of Quaid-i-Azam Library at Lawrence Garden was near completion, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.