Sindh IG expects Rs135bn for police department in budget 2024-25

KARACHI: As the Sindh government is set to announce its budget, Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon expects the police department to get a share of Rs135 billion in the budget 2024-2025, Rs10 billion more than last year.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who also holds the portfolio of provincial finance minister, will present the budget for financial year 2024-25 in the provincial assembly in Karachi today.

Talking to Geo News, Memon suggested a number of improvements for the police department through the budget money to enhance policing.

The IG proposed to invest the budget directly in police stations rather than handing it over to officers. A police station is the basic unit of the department, and its budget should be given to its SHO, he said.

He said his other priority for budget was improving the investigation. The investigation officer should have a digital wallet for the expenditures, he suggested, adding that an IO was normally given fund after completing his probe.

“An investigation officer will get advance budget through the digital wallet,” he said.

Memon said welfare of police officials was proposed in the budget. He said an amount worth Rs5 million was allocated for health insurance of police officials through State Life Insurance.

“Each police official, from IG to a constable will get Rs1 million. They could get medical treatment from any hospital through that money,” he said.

He apprised that most of the proposals were made for making the police station culture better. A budget was also proposed for centralised monitoring, while a model police station would be established in each district.

“Initially, 200 (such) police stations will be constructed,” he said.

The Sindh IG said the total number of police stations would be reduced from 618 to 484 to control crimes in the province. He said mobile vans of police stations would also be replaced.