Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed has asked the provincial government to declare the province a ‘hard area’ and to raise salaries of police officials.

In a letter written to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the IG said that KP and Balochistan are facing internal and external security threats. He added that policing in KP is as difficult as it is in Balochistan.

Hameed said that since Balochistan has been declared a hard area, the same classification should be applied to KP since the province is facing significant security challenges.

The IG complained that officials from KP police have made massive sacrifices in the fight against terrorism but are paid less than other provinces, even Balochistan.

He added that the low salaries are causing anxiety and dissatisfaction among the ranks of KP police. The IG wrote that the police’s bravery and experience in fighting terrorisms make it an exemplary force.

The IG added that his proposed salary increase will cost over Rs201 million to the exchequer.

Between January 1 and March 15 of this year, there were 68 attacks against police officials in the province. A total of 26 police officials have been killed in the attack while 30 were injured. However, the police killed 69 terrorists in reply.