RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched Pakistan’s first dedicated Riot Management Police to handle public protests and ensure the safety of citizens and property.
Chairing a cabinet meeting, the chief minister said, “Protecting people’s lives and property is my top priority.” She added that trained officers can peacefully control angry crowds and help prevent violence.
The special force received training at the Police Training Center in Farooqabad. Officials briefed the CM that the first batch of Riot Management Police completed eight weeks of advanced training.
The training followed international standards used in countries like the US, Turkiye, and Europe. Experts trained in Turkiye conducted the programme.
Each 250-member unit includes 15 sub-teams, such as first aid, drone surveillance, negotiation, crowd engagement, and crowd control.
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Special teams have also been formed for protester arrests, evacuation, K9 (dog handling), snipers, and other support roles. Officers will receive additional allowances based on their duties and skills.
The force will consist of 5,000 personnel in total. So far, 3,000 officers have completed training and will be posted at regional headquarters. Each region will have 250 officers to manage local situations. Their passing-out ceremony was recently held in Farooqabad.
Praising their performance, CM Maryam said the trained officers showed excellent skills in managing protest situations. She said the new police force will play a key role in dealing with groups that try to create unrest or damage public and private property.
