The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has achieved another significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to strengthen operational capabilities, enhance counter-terrorism preparedness, and improve the safety and mobility of police personnel serving in some of the province’s most challenging and high-risk areas.
A ceremony was held today at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines, Peshawar, where Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zulfiqar Hameed, formally handed over a wide range of modern and specialized vehicles and equipment, worth billions of rupees, to District Police Officers and senior officers representing various districts and police units across the province.
The equipment handed over included advanced Dragon Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), bulletproof vehicles, single- and double-cabin vehicles, forklifts, Hiace vans and motorcycles, among other operational assets. The newly provided equipment is expected to significantly enhance the mobility, protection, logistics and operational effectiveness of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, particularly in areas exposed to terrorism and other security challenges.
Senior police officers, including Additional Inspectors General of Police, Deputy Inspectors General of Police, District Police Officers and other senior officials, attended the ceremony.
During the event, the IGP KP conducted a detailed inspection of the newly provided armoured vehicles, double-cabin vehicles and forklifts and received briefings from the concerned officials regarding their operational capabilities and intended deployment.
Under the province-wide strategy to strengthen effective, responsive and people-oriented policing, modern Dragon APCs and other armoured personnel carriers have been allocated to districts facing significant security challenges.
The highly advanced Dragon APCs have been provided to Tank, Hangu and Bannu, while additional APCs have been allocated to Upper Dir and Mansehra. These armoured platforms are intended to provide enhanced protection to police personnel, facilitate safer movement in high-risk areas and enable law-enforcement teams to respond more effectively to terrorist attacks and other serious security threats.
The deployment of modern armoured vehicles is particularly important for police formations operating in difficult terrain and areas where personnel remain exposed to ambushes, improvised explosive devices and armed attacks.
The capacity-building initiative extends beyond armoured vehicles. Modern Revo vehicles have been provided to the District Police Officers of Kohat and Torghar, while Hiace vans have been allocated to police formations in Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Abbottabad and the Telecommunications wing. In addition, single- and double-cabin vehicles have been distributed to various districts to improve routine policing, operational mobility and the rapid deployment of personnel. As part of this initiative, 4×4 single-cabin vehicles have been allocated to Swat and Lower Dir, while 4×2 single-cabin vehicles have been provided to Hangu and Tank.
The distribution of these vehicles is aimed at ensuring that police formations have reliable and suitable transport for operations, patrolling, emergency response, logistics and movement of personnel in both urban and remote areas.
As part of efforts to improve traffic management and logistical support, 33 forklifts have also been distributed among various districts and police units. These forklifts will assist police authorities in addressing traffic-related challenges, removing vehicles involved in illegal parking, clearing road obstructions and reducing congestion on major roads and highways. Their deployment is expected to strengthen the ability of district police to respond swiftly to traffic management requirements.
Similarly, the keys of 25 motorcycles were handed over to District Police Officers for deployment in different districts. The motorcycles will enhance mobility and facilitate quicker access for police personnel, particularly in areas where conventional vehicles may face limitations.
Speaking on the occasion, IGP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed said that the provincial police leadership is committed to strengthening the operational capabilities of the force while ensuring maximum protection for officers and personnel serving in terrorism-affected districts. The IGP said that, alongside the provision of modern vehicles, existing police vehicles are also being upgraded and equipped with enhanced protective features so that personnel deployed on patrol and counter-terrorism duties can move with greater security.
He stated that 84 APCs of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police are currently undergoing an upgrading process involving modern technology, with the objective of enhancing their protection and operational effectiveness. He added that the induction of APCs into the police fleet would continue on a regular basis in accordance with operational requirements.
The provincial police chief further noted that the police had also undertaken side-armouring of police mobiles during the previous year, aimed at providing additional protection to personnel deployed on routine patrol and security duties.
The IGP emphasized that effective policing in the present security environment requires not only trained and dedicated personnel but also modern equipment, protected mobility and reliable logistical support. He said that the provision of modern APCs, armoured vehicles, pickups and other specialized vehicles was part of a broader strategy to strengthen the police force’s capacity to respond rapidly to security threats and provide timely services to the public.
“Enhancing the operational capacity of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and ensuring the safety of our officers and personnel remain among our foremost priorities,” the IGP said. He added that modern vehicles and equipment would enable police formations to reach communities more quickly, operate more effectively in difficult areas and perform their responsibilities with greater safety and efficiency.
The provincial police chief also highlighted the importance of strengthening the province’s traffic management system. He said the deployment of 33 forklifts across various districts would contribute to better traffic regulation, removal of illegally parked vehicles and reduction of congestion on major roads and highways. He further stated that the modernization of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police was being pursued as a comprehensive and continuous process.
The force is being equipped not only with modern weapons and advanced vehicles but also with quality training, improved technology, enhanced protective equipment and modern operational resources to meet the evolving requirements of contemporary policing. The IGP reiterated that the objective of these measures is to strengthen the police’s ability to maintain law and order, counter terrorism effectively, protect the lives of police personnel and provide timely and quality services to citizens.
He emphasized that the modernization and capacity-building process would continue in the future, with additional resources and technological improvements being introduced according to operational needs.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police remains committed to building a better-equipped, better-protected, technologically capable and public-oriented police force, capable of meeting security challenges while maintaining the highest standards of professional policing and service to the people of the province
