Islamabad:April 28:A graduation ceremony of passing out Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) of the 37th Specialised Training Programme (STP) was held at the National Police Academy here on Friday.
Federal Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik, who was the chief guest congratulated the graduating officers on completion of their initial command course. He also congratulated the parents and families of the graduating officers saying that that the passing out ceremony could not be held on Thursday owing to some extraordinary circumstances.
He appreciated Syed Shabbir Ahmed, Commandant of the National Police Academy, for imparting quality training to the ASsP and other law enforcement agencies. He stated that Syed Shabbir Ahmed is well known in the civil service of Pakistan as an honest, very able, dedicated and devoted officer with whom he had also worked in the FIA.
He stated that due to advancement of technology, challenges for police force have increased manifold and they need to be equipped with latest technological instruments and imparted advance training to effectively control crimes and criminals. The present ratio of police as per population of the country is far less than many countries. He appreciated the role of police officials who not only perform their duties to maintain law and order in the society but also participate in rescue operations and assist the citizens in all calamities.
The minister asked the NPA commandant to introduce new important subjects and train the ASPs and officers of other law enforcement organizations with modern crime trends like cyber crime, criminal investigation techniques etc. with a view to ensure peace and stability in the country. As otherwise if trust of the public in police forces is lost, then every thing is lost.
The minister advised the graduating ASPs to work hard, perform their duties honestly, won trust and confidence of the citizens as with public-police closeness is a key to successful policing. He assured that no stone will be left unturned in impressing upon the relevant quarters of the government, the need and importance of enhancing the pay package of the academy. In this regard he stated that he had personally taken up the matter with the secretary and finance minister for enhancement of pay package of the employees of the National Police Academy.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance have agreed to enhance the pay package of the employees of the academy so as to bring it at par with that of the ICT police plus 25% extra as a special pay so as to attract and retain quality officers in the academy. He stated that the Ministry of Finance have allocated funds in the budget and employees of the academy will receive enhanced salaries from July 2012. He also announced to provide scholarships to the children of faculty/employees of the National Police Academy for higher studies through the Higher Education Commission. The minister informed the participants that he had requested K.M. Siddique Akbar, Secretary, Ministry of Interior, to give all necessary resources and support to the academy to meet its professional obligations including creation of an IT section/laboratory, duly equipped with latest equipments. The importance of having a fully manned National Police Academy cannot be underestimated.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Syed Shabbir Ahmed, Commandant of National Police Academy, stated that it symbolizes in no small measure the importance which the government attaches to the police and its training. The commandant mentioned that passing out ASPs are from the 37th batch Specialized Training Programme comprising 35 officers including lady officers.
The minister reviewed the smartly turned out guard of honour, presented by the graduating ASsP, and awarded trophies amongst outstanding officers. The coveted prize of Sword of Honour for all round best ASP was given to ASP Adil Memon, while the prizes of best in parade, academics, discipline, physical training and firing were awarded to ASPs Faisal Shahzad, Atif Nazir, Irfan Tariq, Amjad Hayat, and Captain (r) Bilal Iftikhar respectively.The news.