RAWALPINDI: As part of austerity measures, the unauthorised use of official telephones and electric appliances in police stations and offices has been prohibited.

The City Police Officer Rawalpindi has ordered removal air conditioners, electric heaters immediately from the offices of the officers who were not authorised to the facilities.

According to sources, the move came about after CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani issued directives to control the use of government resources in the police depaatment, and had sent two separate letters in this regards to the SSP Operations, divisional and sub-divisional police officers, SHOs and DSP Headquarters.

In the letter sent regarding the electricity bills, the police officers have been told that it has come to the notice that officers and other police personnel often leave electrical appliances, lights and heaters, switched on in offices and barracks, etc.,which not only waste electricity but also incurs high bills.

All offices and police stations and other police establishments should immediately stop using electric heaters, the directive said.

Similarly, unnecessary use of air conditioners installed in the offices of various officers, who are not allowed the facility, should immediately be removed.

Likewise, the directives issued regarding phone bills, CPO Rawalpindi said that the bills of official phones installed in most police offices, police stations and posts have been very high and the bills include long-term landline and mobile phone calls which are not justified.

Also phone registers have not been prepared regarding the use of phones, which is also an audit objection, said the CPO adding that the bills do not include details of phone and mobile phone calls.

In future, the CPO directed that a register of every telephone installed in the police establishments should be made and a monthly statement should be prepared, and misuse of facilities provided by the government should be avoided.

Officers and relevant officials should be warned by the CPO and strict implementation of instructions should be ensured.

In case of negligence, departmental action will be taken against the relevant in-charge and the officials. In case of high bills, deductions will also be made from the salaries of the relevant officials, the CPO warned.