Northern Areas police to recruit 1,240 next year

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Minister Aftab Sherpao said on Monday that 1,240 policemen would be recruited for the Northern Areas to improve law and order.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Northern Areas cabinet, he said, “The meeting reviewed law and order and decided to strengthen the Northern Areas Police. 1,240 policemen will be recruited in the next financial year.” Mr Sherpao said the cabinet had also decided to separate the Education and Health departments of the Northern Areas and release Rs 17 million for the construction of shell bunkers along the Line of Control (LoC).

The minister said the Islamiyat syllabus controversy would be resolved soon. “No segment of society should find the syllabus objectionable,” he said. There have been recent protests in the Northern Areas by Shia groups about the Islamiyat syllabus. About the Kalabagh Dam, Mr Sherpao said Pakistan did need new dams to manage its water resources, but the Kalabagh Dam should not be built until all the provinces agree to it. The cabinet decided at the meeting to compensate 693 families displaced from their homes by recent Indian firing across the LoC.

The Red Cross has provided tents and medicines, but the families need relief assistance until shell bunkers are constructed for them, a press release said.

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