April 7, 2025 – A pivotal meeting was held at the Central Police Office in Lahore, chaired by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, following the formal approval of the Crime Control Department (CCD) Ordinance. This significant development aims to bolster efforts in combating major criminal activities across the province.
The meeting saw the participation of key officials, including Additional IG CCD Sohail Zafar Chattha, Additional IG Welfare and Finance, DIG Operations Punjab, and other senior police officers. Officers from various regions, including CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana and representatives from South Punjab, RPOs, CPOs, and DPOs, joined the session via video link.
IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar led the discussions, focusing on the necessary steps to activate the newly approved CCD. The meeting covered a range of administrative issues, including human resources, logistics, terms of reference (TORs), and the operational structure of the department.
Additional IG Sohail Zafar Chattha provided an in-depth briefing on the department’s objectives post-approval. He emphasized that highly skilled and experienced crime-fighting officers had been selected for the CCD. Aligned with the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the department will specifically target criminals involved in heinous crimes.
IG Dr. Usman Anwar acknowledged the challenges the CCD may face but expressed strong confidence in its success. He highlighted that the provincial police are already providing necessary human resources, logistics, and office spaces to support the department’s operations. Additionally, funding has been allocated, and recruitment for 4,000 new personnel is already underway in phases. The process of procuring transport, furniture, and other logistics for the CCD is set to begin soon, along with the identification of buildings for the new police stations.
The CCD will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a comprehensive criminal database, surveillance systems, advanced locators, and IT infrastructure to support its operations. Dr. Anwar emphasized that the department’s officers must demonstrate exceptional capabilities and deliver timely results in fighting crime.
The Crime Control Department will focus on high-priority criminal activities, including the arrest and conviction of major drug dealers, dangerous criminals, and individuals involved in serious crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, extortion, robbery, and murder. Other key targets include tackling vehicle theft, controlling land mafia operations, suppressing inter-provincial criminal gangs, and coordinating with other districts to combat crime.
IG Punjab also stressed the importance of enhanced coordination between various police units to address significant challenges like terrorism, unrest, and maintaining law and order in the province.
