UN peacekeeping mission: NPB restarts process for cops' selection

On the recommendations of Ministry of Interior, the National Police Bureau (NPB) has started a new selection process for police personnel for the United Nations peacekeeping mission by rejecting the previously selected around 9,000 cops for this mission in the year 2013, well-informed sources in the police department told Business Recorder on Monday.
Pakistan sends police officials after a strict qualifying test based on six phases including communication, driving and shooting skills both for armed and unarmed missions on the request of United Nations. The sources said the appointments not only enhance exposure of police officials and add to their skills but also contribute over Rs 93 million per annum to the national exchequer in shape of salaries paid to these officials.
Nevertheless, the present government in 2013 slapped a ban through the Ministry of Interior on such postings with the excuse that Pakistan herself needs trained manpower to combat the menace of terrorism. Till then, some 9,000 police officials had already been qualified for UN mission and their selection was made according to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
However, as the law and order situation improved in the country, the Ministry of Interior lifted the ban on postings of law enforcement agencies' officials abroad and asked the National Police Bureau (NPB) to conduct the tests of police officers in their respective provinces afresh.
"Due to ban on deployment of police officers for this mission, the officials of the UN had appointed the police 'jawans' from India and Bangladesh," they said. The sources said the validation of the peacekeeping mission programme had expired as it was valid for two years only. However, they added that police chiefs of all the provinces (if interested) can send them for UN peacekeeping mission through the process of 'P-11' (Personal History Form).