terrorism can be combated by adopting a collective strategy:CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is facing the serious challenge of terrorism which can be combated by adopting a collective strategy. He said we want to increase cooperation with Britain to enhance our counter-terrorism capabilities. He said capacity-building of Punjab police is being ensured to counter terrorism while police officers are being provided special training in anti-terrorism in collaboration with Turkey.

Chief Minister was talking to Director General, Security and Counter Terrorism Department of Britain Charles Farr at Model Town, here today. Senior Advisor Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Members Assembly Rana Tanvir, Col. ® Shuja Khanzada, Secretary Home and Chairman Chief Minister’s Monitoring and Implementation Cell Brig. ® Anees Ahmed as well as officers of British High Commission were present on the occasion. Talking to the British delegation, the Chief Minister said that peace in the society is essential for progress and development. He said, unfortunately, Pakistan and the whole region is facing terrorism for the last many years. He said Pakistan has played an effective role against terrorism to safeguard the world and rendered maximum sacrifices for this purpose. He said cooperation of Britain with the Punjab government in counter-terrorism is highly laudable. He said there is a need for capacity-building and training of investigation officers and prosecutors as well as police. He said fundamental changes are needed in order to make the criminal justice system more effective and for this purpose a modern forensic science laboratory has been set up in Lahore which authenticates evidence of important cases. He said this laboratory is providing modern facilities not only to Punjab but to the whole country. He said that work is continuing on formulating a command and control system in Punjab in order to effectively combat crimes in the province.

Talking on the occasion, British Director General Security and Counter Terrorism Charles Farr assured the Chief Minister that Britain would continue to extend cooperation for the steps taken by the Punjab government with regard to security and counter-terrorism. He said agreements signed with the Punjab government on counter-terrorism would soon be implemented. During the meeting, views were exchanged on further improving measures for security and counter terrorism.