Inspector General of Punjab Police (IGP) Abdul Kareem announced on Wednesday that Punjab Police and traffic personnel will be provided body cameras in phases over the next two months.

Chairing a meeting at the Central Police Office to review the implementation of reforms under the ‘Fast, Fearless, Transparent Justice’ initiative, the IGP said that panic buttons were being installed outside police stations to allow citizens to immediately lodge complaints in cases of misconduct or unresponsiveness.

He ordered that at all police stations, offices, checkpoints, and Khidmat Marakaz, citizens should be addressed respectfully as “sir or madam” and “sahib or sahiba.” Counseling and training for officers and personnel would also be arranged to improve the public perception of Punjab Police.

IGP Kareem emphasised strict accountability, stating that officials involved in corruption, abuse of authority, or misconduct would face immediate action. He also instructed that CCTV cameras in all police stations be kept fully operational, with backup systems ensured.

A modern control and monitoring room at the Central Police Office is being activated for effective oversight of police stations. Through the Safe Cities mechanism, direct monitoring of police stations, SHOs (Station House Officer), moharrirs, and investigation rooms will also be carried out. 

The IGP stressed enhancing core policing, supervision, and command systems for effective crime control, noting that Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz is personally overseeing police reforms.

Traffic law enforcement will continue, and crackdowns on violations will be strictly implemented. The IGP said that the investigation process and citizens’ activities at police stations would be fully recorded, and practical implementation of key performance indicators (KPIs) scorecards will be ensured. He revealed that he personally calls citizens from the Central Police Office to collect feedback.

RPOs (Regional Province Officer) and DPOs (District Police Officer) were directed to maintain direct contact with citizens for grievance redressal. In cases involving abuse, harassment, or violence, investigations involving women and children must be conducted with civility and respect. 

Priority will be given to cases involving women and children, with support from data collected at Virtual Women Police Stations and the Center for Child Safety.

IGP Kareem also initiated direct contact with citizens through the 1787 Complaint Center, speaking to several individuals via phone to gather feedback on complaint resolution, police responsiveness, and conduct. Citizens shared their opinions on actions taken and responses provided by the police.

He further instructed that complaints received via phone, SMS, email, and other channels be resolved promptly according to prescribed timelines and SOPs. Citizens were urged to report any irregularity or misconduct by the police through the 1787 helpline.

During the briefing, Punjab Additional IG Imran Arshad, Additional IG (Internal Accountability) Imran Mehmood, Additional IG (Logistics) Fawad-ud-Din Qureshi, AIG Inspection, AIG Operations, and other senior officers were also present.