Rs56bn to be spent on internal security

The allocation is Rs1.5 billion more than the Rs54.58 billion spent this year. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The government will spend Rs56 billion on internal security of the country during 2011-12 as the intensity of terrorist attacks, especially after the killing of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, has made the job of the departments concerned more challenging.
The projected allocation includes Rs5.8 billion for various projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
It is not known how much money will be spent on training police and civil armed forces personnel and what steps are being taken to equip them with latest weapons and other apparatus.
Most of the money allocated for security departments will be spent on pay and allowances, accommodation and construction of buildings.
The allocation is Rs1.5 billion more than the Rs54.58 billion spent this year.
The break-up of the allocation shows that Rs457.13 million has been earmarked for the interior division, Rs4.77 billion for Islamabad police and local administration, Rs856.57 million for passport outfit and Rs24.08 billion for civil armed forces.
The Frontier Constabulary will get Rs5.63 billion, Coast Guards Rs1.71 billion and Rangers Rs11.45 billion, while Rs1.96
billion has been set aside for ‘other’ expenditures.
A sum of Rs755 million has been allocated for the administration of public order, Rs14 million for prison administration, Rs85 million fire protection and operation and Rs1.05 billion for police.
Significant projects to be financed under the PSDP include the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) for which Rs220.58 million has been allocated.
During the year, Rs102 million will be spent on raising the Balochistan Constabulary, Rs25 million on conversion of B- into A- areas in Balochistan and Rs300 million on setting up the National Forensic Science Agency headquarters and the Islamabad laboratory.
The Pakistan Automated Fingerprint Identification System (PAFIS) Phase-II has been allocated Rs300 million, procurement and installation of a Non-Intrusive Vehicle X-Ray System (NVIS) Rs150 million, Machine-Readable Passport and Visa Project’s phase-I Rs60 million and Phase-II Rs900 million, construction of accommodation for Bhitai Rangers in Karachi Rs200 million and for Abdullah Shah Ghazi Rangers Rs200 million.
A sum of Rs81.17 million has been allocated for hardware and software upgrading of the National Data Warehouse at Nadra headquarters, Rs497 million for the Islamabad development package, Rs30 million for the construction of a Judicial and Administration Complex in Islamabad, Rs147 million for the Population Welfare Programme and services in Islamabad, Rs300 million for the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes Phase-II, Rs39.91 million for allied facilities at the National Public Safety commission building.
Purchase of land and allied facilities under occupation Qalat Scouts in Balochistan will cost Rs120 million and Rs186 million has been earmarked for the Safe City Islamabad Project.