LAHORE: Dubai police has shortlisted two out of the 10 nominated officers of the Punjab police to compete for the World Police Summit Award-2024 being held at the World Trade Centre, Dubai, next month (March). Punjab Safe City Authority Managing Director Ahsan Younas and Vehari DPO Mohammad Essa Khan have been selected for the contest against categories of public service delivery and excellence in anti-narcotics, respectively. The two officers have been picked for the global event to be participated in by the policemen from across the world for their ‘exceptional services’. They were among the 10 police officers from Pakistan nominated by Punjab inspector general of police in the first week of December, 2023. Ahsan Younas and Essa Khan were among the two groups, each comprising four police officers, which have been shortlisted against different categories from police forces of 180 countries. they are competing as finalists for the award at the World Police Summit-2024. The panel which shortlisted the candidates comprises senior police experts, formed by the Dubai’s agency organising the event from March 7-9 in Dubai.
The three-day event will feature seven conferences where attendees will participate in lectures by international experts, gain firsthand insights on the fast-evolving challenges and priorities facing today’s police agencies and criminal justice entities worldwide. An official privy to the development told Dawn the Dubai police shortlisted Ahsan Younas for playing a decisive role in digitising the Punjab police force data, IT reforms and in expanding the scope of Safe Cities project. He also launched a citizen feedback app for the Punjab Police, making it the first police organisation in Pakistan to have such a platform. Muhammad Essa Khan was acknowledged for making outstanding efforts in community policing, eradication of drugs and launching a anti-drug pilot project which was later replicated all over Punjab, the official said. Under the project, Mr Essa got picked 80 drug addicts from roads and shifted them to Rural Health Centres to ensure their medical supervision.
The DPO engaged NGOs, government departments concerned and the philanthropists for the rehabilitation of these addicts, who resumed their normal lives and were provided jobs. The Punjab IG had awarded the DPO letter of appreciation when the project was replicated across 36 districts of Punjab. The official said the jury will further evaluate the working papers sent by the finalists, announcing the winner in each category at the Dubai event. According to the official documents, the federal interior ministry had sought the nominations from the police chiefs of four provinces, Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP), Pakistan Railways Police, etc after Dubai police sent it invitation for the contest in last November. On being asked by Dawn about participation in the contest, the IGs of Sindh, AJ&K, GB, Islamabad, KP and other police officers concerned confirmed no officer had been shortlisted for the Dubai event from their force.
From Punjab, the IGP had nominated Faisalabad Regional Police Officer (RPO) Abid Khan, Multan RPO Sohail Chaudhry, Lahore Operations DIG Ali Nasir Rizvi, Punjab Highways Patrol DIG Athar Waheed, the then Lahore Chief Traffic Officer Mustansar Feroze, Sargodha DPO Faisal Kamran, Gujranwala CTO Ayesha Butt and Lahore Gulberg Circle ASP Syeda Sheharbano, besides Ahsan Younas and Essa Khan. Dubai police has also invited Punjab IGP Usman Anwar, DIG Waqas Nazir, SSP Riffat Haider Bukhari, SSP Dr Asad Ijaz Malhi, SP Bushra Nisar, SP Maham Khan, ASP Sundus Ishaq and ASP Syeda Shehrbano to the World Police Summit. At the event, ASP Shaherbano will give a presentation on Police Tahaffuz Markaz project, measures taken for the welfare of transpersons and police public service projects. Punjab IG has declared the shortlisting of the two officers for the award a source of pride for the Police Service of Pakistan and the province.
(Daily Dawn)
*********************
