Punjab police face uncertainty over ‘hard area’ transfers

A recent decision by the Establishment Division to transfer 10 Punjab police officers to so-called “hard areas” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has sparked concern within the force, particularly among officers nearing retirement or dealing with health issues.

These postings, which are for a mandatory one-year period, involve assignments in regions considered difficult due to security risks, remoteness, or limited infrastructure. Such placements typically come with additional allowances as compensation.

Officials told Dawn that under a policy introduced during the tenure of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, these assignments were intended primarily for younger officers to help build field experience early in their careers. In line with that approach, officers from newer batches were expected to be rotated into these roles.

However, the latest list includes officers inducted into the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) through provincial service between 2020 and 2021, many of whom have only a few years of service remaining. Some are also currently undergoing mid-career training, due to conclude in early June.

The Establishment Division has issued separate notifications naming five officers each for postings in Balochistan and KP, with instructions for immediate relief from their current assignments in Punjab. The officers are required to complete 365 days of active service in their new postings before returning.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Kareem confirmed that the department had received the transfer orders and acknowledged that the matter had been discussed internally. He said concerns raised by the affected officers would be taken up with the Establishment Division.

Several officers have questioned the rationale behind the move, arguing that the 2020 rotation policy was meant to apply only to those entering the civil service through the CSS examination from that year onward. They also pointed out that the simultaneous requirement to attend promotion courses and relocate to challenging postings has created administrative complications.

Some officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision places “undue strain” on experienced personnel, particularly those close to retirement or facing medical issues, and deviates from earlier commitments to assign such duties to younger recruits.

In response, Establishment Division Secretary Nabeel Awan said the transfers were not governed by the rotation policy, which he described as currently suspended at the request of provincial governments. He maintained that officers inducted into the PSP become federal employees and can be posted anywhere in the country under government directives.

Rejecting claims of selective treatment, Awan termed the move a temporary arrangement aimed at meeting immediate staffing needs, and said officers were expected to comply with the orders.