The Punjab Highway Patrol (; reporting name: PHP) serves as the safe highways police for all Provincial Highways of Punjab. The PHP patrol the roads to maintain safe highways and prevent crimes from taking place, especially in rural regions of Punjab. Recently, in many districts, some of the patrolling units have also been given the responsibility for imposing tickets for traffic violations.

History

The Chief Minister of the Punjab announced the establishment of Patrolling Posts on the highways throughout the province on 8 January 2003. The object was to provide security to the people traveling on the highways and improve thana (Police Station) culture. 450 Patrolling Post would be established in two phases. By 31 March 2005 more than 190 posts have become operational and others will soon be commissioned. More than 11,500 constables have been recruited and trained in two years. They receive a special pay package which is almost twice that of the regular police. The Punjab Highway Patrol is headed by an officer of the rank of an Additional Inspector-General of Police.

Head of Organization Additional Inspectors General of police is the Head of Punjab Highway Patrol. The list of heads of this unit who commanded this organisation of Punjab Police is as under: Name of Officers From To Mr. Tariq Saleem PSP 4 August 2006 7 May 2007 Mr. Javed Noor PSP 7 May 2007 26 January 2008 Mr. Muhammad Altaf Qamar PSP PPM25 February 2008 4 June 2008 Mr. Muhammad Zahid Mahmood PSP 4 June 2008 8 March 2009 Mr. Mirza Muhammad Yasin PSP 8 March 2009 3 April 2009 Mr. Zahid Mahmood PSP 3 April 2009 13 May 2009 Mr. Mohammad Wasim PSP 13 May 2009 31 January 2011 Mr. Humayun Raza Shafi PSP 21 February 2011 14 June 2011 Mr. Khan Baig PSP 16 June 2011 2 January 2013 Mr. Malik Khuda Bakhsh Awan PSP 2 January 2013 8 April 2013 Mr. Sohail Khan PSP 12 April 2013 28 July 2014 Mr. Mian Javed Islam PSP 28 July 2014 8 October 2015 Dr. Arif Mushtaq Chaudhary PSP 13 October 2015 22 February 2016 Mr. Amjad Javed Saleemi PSP 22 February 2016 22 May 2018 Mr. Kunwar Shahrukh PSP 31 May 2018 August 2018–present Mr. Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh PSP August 2018 December 2018 Mr. Ahmad Ishaque Jahangir PSP December 2018 February 2019 Mr. Capt(R) Ahmad Latif PSP February 2019 April 2019 Mr. Manzoor Sarwar Chaudhary PSP April 2019 November 2019 Mr. Capt(R) Zafar Iqbal Awan PSP November 2019 –

Objectives Control crime on highways with a system of foot and mobile patrol within an area extending to 220 feet on either side of the designated highways Apprehend criminals and hand them over to the local police Preserve the crime scene and inform the local police after commission of an offence Take measures to control traffic accidents In case of accident, provide first aid to the injured and transport the seriously injured to hospital Serve as reporting centres and provide emergency help in the form of guidance and road-side assistance Keep the highways clear of encroachments in coordination with the competent authority Conduct effective nakabandi (picketing on roads/highways) to stop a suspect vehicle following a crime or an accident Check over-speeding and use of pressure horns in public service vehicles Ensure round the clock presence of uniformed, well trained, well educated, alert and vigilant force Traffic management on 12 Highways across the province

Training Training occurs at the Chohung Training Center in Lahore. In addition to regular police training, the personnel of the Punjab Highway Patrol have been given 1 month of elite police training, to deal with criminals. They have also been given instructions in the following areas:

Character building Principles of patrolling Preservation of the scene of crime Stop, search and arrest First aid Public dealing / Community policing Safety and cleanliness.

Uniform

In order to distinguish Punjab Highway Patrol from general police a special uniform has been designed.

Helpline In case of emergencies for help/assistance, Punjab Highway Patrol has established a helpline 1124 for road commuters.

Vehicles

Toyota Hilux (Single Cab & Double Cabin Vigo)

Weapons AK 47 H&K G3 H&K MP5 Glock pistols Beretta 92fs TT pistols shotguns

See also Punjab Police (Pakistan) Provincial Highways of Punjab Elite Police National Highways & Motorway Police

References

External links