ISLAMABAD: The Planning Commission has approved a Rs1.6 billion project concept (PC-1) for the establishment of a specialised force in the capital city.

Officials told Dawn on Tuesday that the PC-1 was approved at a meeting chaired by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Monday. The force is being established under the National Action Plan (NAP).

In June, the PC-1 prepare d by the police was sent to the interior ministry seeking Rs1.85 billion. However, in August the ministry returned it to the police with a direction to reduce the cost by 50 per cent.

In about three weeks, the police failed to reduce the cost substantially fearing that it may hamper the establishment of the force to get the desired results in the war on terrorism. Officials said the police tried their best and brought the cost downto Rs1.62 billion from the Rs1.85 billion originally demanded. Some civil works and developing expenditures were removed from the PC-1.

As the Central Developing Working Party of the Planning Commission approved the PC-1, the police would get the amount soon, they added. The construction of a fully-fledged headquarters, purchase of 21 kanals at a cost of Rs530 million along with arms and vehicles were included in the PC-1.

Similarly, a separate PC-1 about the administrative expenditure manpower for the force and their salary along with perks and privileges worth Rs630 million was sent to the Prime Minister Office for approval. The Rs630 million PC-1 was prepared for the force of1,000 personnel from the rank of constable to the senior superintendent of police.

The officials said the pay scale of the officials of the force would be similar to that of the capital police but they would get a special allowance which would be almost double of the salary.