By Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northwestern province bordering Afghanistan, have asked the provincial government to approve a special monthly allowance for all officers, a package costing about Rs4.2 billion, saying the force is facing sharply rising militant attacks and growing security demands.
The request comes amid a 56 percent increase in attacks on police officers during the first 11 months of this year compared with the same period in 2024, according to official data. The proposal, detailed in a summary sent by the Central Police Office to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, shows the escalating risks faced by officers on the front lines of counterinsurgency operations.
The summary emphasises the provincial government’s commitment to bolstering police capabilities and welfare in the face of persistent militancy and security threats. “Due to the government’s focused efforts and effective administrative measures, not only has the law and order situation improved, but the government’s overall public image has also strengthened,” the document states. It highlights the need for financial incentives to recognise the dangers inherent in police work. “KP police have made countless sacrifices, including the loss of precious lives and serious injuries,” the summary reads, noting that officers are routinely exposed to bombings, targeted attacks and other violent acts by extremist groups.
The document points out that, unlike in some other high-risk environments, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police currently perform their duties without additional compensation, despite the province’s volatile security landscape. The proposed allowance would equal one month’s basic pay for all ranks, from constables to senior officers, and is intended to uplift spirits and performance. “The provision of this allowance will not only recognise the extraordinary services and sacrifices of KP police but will significantly enhance their morale, efficiency, and motivation in carrying out critical security operations throughout the province.”
Data from the police department show that, through Dec. 1, militants carried out 510 attacks on police personnel this year, resulting in 137 officers killed and 236 injured. In the comparable period last year, 327 attacks led to 147 deaths, reflecting the sharp rise in incidents even as fatalities dipped slightly. Police officials attribute the 7 percent decline in casualties to enhanced fortifications, including strengthened checkpoints and police stations, as well as the armoring of vehicles. At the same time, the number of militant assaults repelled at police installations has more than doubled, to 320 this year from 158 in 2024.
The Counter-Terrorism Department, a specialized unit within the force, has ramped up its efforts, conducting 2,791 intelligence-based operations in the first 11 months of the year — a 61 percent increase over last year. These operations led to the arrest of 1,244 suspected terrorists and the killing of 420 others, marking a 43 percent rise in such outcomes. The department also apprehended 25 high-value targets.
On Monday, Chief Minister Afridi presided over a ceremony at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines in Peshawar, where he distributed newly acquired armored vehicles, advanced weaponry and security equipment to the force. The handover included drones, anti-drone guns and systems, thermal cameras, jammers, body armor, ballistic helmets, sniper rifles, Dragunov marksman rifles, M-16 assault rifles, submachine guns, heavy machine guns and other specialized tools, according to an official statement.
The event highlighted the government’s push to equip officers better amid the ongoing threats, though it stopped short of addressing the allowance request directly. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, long a hotbed for Taliban insurgents and other militant factions, has seen a resurgence of attacks since the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021, straining resources and testing the resolve of local security forces.
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