KPK, 30 August 2023(TDI): UNDP Pakistan has launched its flagship training program aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police personnel.
The objective is to foster digital literacy within the security sector and promote community-oriented policing in the Merged Districts.
This initiative, supported by the European Union (EU) under the ‘Deliver Justice Project,’ is being conducted at the Police Training School in Shakas, Khyber District.
The training is particularly focused on 2000 former Khasadars and Levies who integrated into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police post-merger in 2017.
This effort aligns with UNDP Pakistan’s broader strategy to bolster service delivery within the security sector in these merged districts.
In the previous year, more than 650 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police personnel underwent specialized training, and an additional 900 are set to receive training by the year’s end.
The comprehensive training program spans a duration of ten days, encompassing a range of vital subjects.
These include instruction in basic investigative skills, techniques for managing public disorder and riots, gender-responsive policing, community policing, and even basic computer skills.
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Upon the conclusion of the training for the first batch, Capt. (R) Feroze Shah, PSP, Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the Directorate of Training, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, expressed appreciation for the support extended by UNDP Pakistan and the EU.
He underscored the significance of these specialized courses, particularly in the context of the relatively recent establishment of regular policing in the merged districts.
Dr. Quraish Khan, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) for Merged Districts at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, emphasized the crucial link between augmenting core policing functions and ensuring safer communities within the merged districts.
Anticipating a greater impact this year due to the larger number of personnel to be trained, the long-term effect on access to justice and overall security within these regions is expected to be substantial.
Ms. Chamila Hemmathagama, the Program Manager for UNDP Pakistan’s Rule of Law Program, extended gratitude to both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the EU for their support in enhancing policing efforts within the merged districts.
She stressed the essential nature of upskilling former Khasadars and Levies to ensure a smooth transition to a formal security framework, characterized by equitable access to justice for all citizens.
The “Deliver Justice program,” funded by the EU, is a concerted endeavor aimed at supporting reforms that prioritize people-centered justice, amplify access to justice for marginalized groups, especially women, and elevate the quality-of-service delivery within the security sector. This collaborative program involves contributions from the EU, UNDP, UN Women, and UNODC.
