PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Nasir Khan Durrani visited the police and Frontier Constabulary checkposts in peripheral areas of Peshawar bordering Khyber Agency on Wednesday to get firsthand information about the problems being faced by security personnel posted there.

He expressed his reservations about the lack of facilities to the personnel at some of the most sensitive locations and later directed the CCPO Peshawar to ensure refurbishment of all police checkposts and provision of proper shelters and drinking water for all on-duty officials in the border areas within a week.

Mr Durrani visited the areas ofMattani and Badhber police stations, which owing to proximity to the tribal belt had remained vulnerable to attacks from militants operating from the tribal belt.

Previously, owing to security reasons the senior command of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police had abandoned the practice of visiting the far-flung and turbulent areas while the visits to the relatively peaceful region were also confined to police lines.

Likewise, the senior command`s interaction with public was also minimised as only a selected few, chosen by the local police officials, were invited to police lines for attending such events.

In order to restore public confidence in police, the IGP had asked all the RPOs and DPOs to pay random visits to police stations and police posts besides having surprise interactions with pubic in bazaars and other busy pubic places.

Leading by example, the IGP himself started the practice of paying surprise visits to the restive areas of the province soon after assuming thecommand of provincial police.

On Wednesday, the IGP visited the police station buildings and border checkposts at Arbab Tapu, Frontier road, Ghaziabad and Zangali, and interacted with the police and constabulary officials deployed there and enquired about their welfare.

The IGP praised the officials deployed at the checkposts in volatile areas for their courage and said they were the pride of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police. He also gave away cash prizes to officials on duty at Zangali and Frontier road checkposts.

Mr Durrani also met with the residents in Badbher bazaar and Zangali area. The people said that they stood by the police force and would thwart the designs of militants in collaboration with the KP police.

They suggested to the IGP that all cart pushers and vendors operating in bazaars should be registered so that their activities could be monitored effectively. Mr Durrani agreed with the suggestion and directed the CCPO to initiate registration of all cart venders.