US commits $17m for equipping KP police

PESHAWAR, April 13: The United States will provide vehicles, communications and other equipment worth $17 million to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police to boost its capacity to protect the local population. In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday between the US authorities and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police. A statement issued here said, that these vehicles and equipment, funded by the US, would support the police – including the Elite Force – in their mission to provide protect to the local population. State Department Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Ambassador William R Brownfield, and provincial Inspector General of Police Fiaz Toru presided over the ceremony. The US acting consul general Constance C Arvis and the embassy's narcotics affairs section director Garace Reynard were also present on the occasion. "The US supports civilian law enforcement in Pakistan through equipment, training, refurbishment and construction of new police facilities," the statement said and added that last year the US had committed Rs8.8 billion for civilian law enforcement assistance. It was stated that this year the US would continue to supply the KP police with approximately 440 additional vehicles, including trucks, armoured vehicles and personnel carriers, ambulances and motorcycles besides other equipment vital to the execution of its critical mission. "The signing of this agreement is another example of ongoing American support and is a symbol of the continuing close cooperation between our two countries," the statement said.—Bureau Report