Crime incidents in Lahore go up despite increase in budget outlay

Lahore: There has been an alarming increase in the registered crimes in Lahore.

The number of incidents has surged by 37.27 per cent from 38,445 in 2002 to 52,773 by the end of 2006.

This was despite the fact that the annual budget allocation of the Lahore police has shot up from Rs104 million (Dh6.5 million) in 2002-03 financial year to Rs1,659 million in 2006-07.

Though the Punjab police website only confirms these statistics, it doesn't mention anything about the reasons leading to an increase in crime despite allocation of more money for the law enforcing agencies during these four years under review.

Cooperation

Talking to Gulf News here yesterday, city police chief Malik Mohammad Iqbal said, "I assure you that if the public cooperates with the police, we will succeed in bringing down the ever-soaring crime graph.

"You will be stunned to know that we receive 300 bogus calls daily from the people who seek pleasure in misleading the police."

He pointed out that since 1947, when the country became independent, 700 cops have laid their lives in the line of their duty. This, he said, "bears ample testimony to the fact that the police are striving hectically to protect the citizens, even at the cost of their own heads".

"I reiterate that without public cooperation, we won't be able to curb crime and apprehend the criminals." He said the police were in touch with global agencies to refine their skills.