Acknowledges concerns about FIRs by LESCO mistakenly including innocent individuals
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE – IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has said that role of law and order is important in ensuring smooth business activities.
He assured the business community that the Punjab Police is utilizing all its resources and energy to maintain peace and stability.
He was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman, Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry and former officials including Mohammad Ali Mian also spoke on the occasion.
The IG Punjab acknowledged the concerns about FIRs by LESCO mistakenly including innocent individuals saying that police follow due process in filing and investigating complaints to avoid harassment.
He agreed to establish a permanent driving license center at LCCI under pre-decided SOPs and added that licenses issuance has increased by 700%.
He said that by the end of this year, the Safe City Project will cover 18 districts and expand to 40 by 2032 which would enhance public safety and security.
The IG Punjab said that stringent measures are being taken against drug dealers with 12,000-14,000 narcotics offenders currently imprisoned. He also said that poverty drives much of the begging issue but organized gangs are also playing role.
Dr. Usman Anwar assured LCCI of monthly meetings with pre-defined agendas to resolve issues effectively. He said that 81% of the police budget is allocated to salaries with the remainder dedicated to development, adding that the Punjab government is actively supporting the department.
LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad commended the Punjab Police for maintaining law and order, particularly for the exemplary security arrangements during LCCI elections. He said that according to the Punjab government’s budget documents for 2024-25, a total of PKR 271 billion has been allocated for public order and safety affairs, with PKR 190 billion designated for the police, comprising approximately 70% of the overall budget. This marks an increase from PKR 165 billion in 2023-24.
He added that currently, Lahore has 120 police stations. According to government statistics, over 270,000 crimes were reported in Lahore in 2022. However, the security situation has significantly improved due to better planning by the police. Mian Abuzar Shad stressed the importance of further enhancing the Safe City Project and recommended upgrading police stations in industrial areas and key markets to model police stations, which would improve operational efficiency.
He also highlighted the need for strong collaboration between the police and the business community, proposing regular meetings to address issues.
Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman said that businesses operate responsibly and called for measures to prevent false FIRs, which harm the reputation of traders. Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry urged strict action against organized begging and drug dealers. He also noted that the Police Facilitation Center at LCCI provides various services, including character certificates, police verification reports, and local and international driving license renewals.
Former LCCI President Muhammad Ali Mian acknowledged the police’s efforts in improving the policing culture and reducing crime.
