LAHORE: All Punjab Police and traffic personnel will be equipped with body-worn cameras in phases over the next two months, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Kareem announced on Wednesday.
Chairing a meeting at the Central Police Office to review reforms under the “Fast, Fearless, Transparent Justice” initiative, the IGP said the move aims to enhance transparency, accountability and public trust in the force.
He also revealed that panic buttons are being installed outside police stations to allow citizens to immediately report misconduct or negligence.
Directing officers to improve public dealings, the IGP instructed that citizens visiting police stations, checkpoints and Khidmat Marakaz be addressed respectfully as “sir,” “madam,” “sahib” or “sahiba.” Counseling and training sessions will be conducted to improve officers’ conduct and overall public perception of the department.
He warned that officials found involved in corruption, abuse of authority or misconduct would face swift and strict action.
The IGP ordered that CCTV cameras in all police stations remain fully operational with proper backup systems in place. A modern control and monitoring room is being activated at the Central Police Office to oversee police stations more effectively. Through the Safe Cities system, activities at police stations — including those of SHOs, moharrirs and investigation rooms — will be directly monitored.
Emphasising stronger supervision and command systems for better crime control, Mr Kareem noted that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is personally overseeing police reform measures.
The meeting also directed strict enforcement of traffic laws and continuation of crackdowns against violations.
The IGP said the investigation process and interactions with visitors at police stations would be fully recorded, and key performance indicator (KPI) scorecards would be implemented effectively. He added that he personally contacts complainants from the Central Police Office to gather feedback on police performance.
RPOs and DPOs were instructed to hold direct meetings with citizens to address grievances promptly. In cases involving abuse, harassment or violence — particularly those concerning women and children — investigations must be conducted with utmost civility and sensitivity. Such cases are to be prioritised using data from Virtual Women Police Stations and the Center for Child Safety.
Separately, the IGP connected with citizens through the 1787 Complaint Center, speaking to several complainants by phone to assess response times, complaint resolution and overall conduct of officers. Citizens shared feedback on police actions taken in their cases.
Mr Kareem directed supervisory officers to ensure immediate action on public complaints and provide relief without delay. He also ordered that complaints received via phone, SMS, email and other channels be resolved strictly within prescribed timelines and standard operating procedures.
He urged citizens to report any irregularity or misconduct through the 1787 helpline.
The IGP received a detailed briefing on the 1787 dashboard and regional complaint data during the meeting, which was attended by senior officers, including Additional IGs Imran Arshad, Imran Mehmood and Fawad-ud-Din Qureshi, along with other senior officials.