On Friday, the Islamabad Development Working Party (IDWP) authorized relevant authorities to proceed with land acquisition and consultant hiring to conduct feasibility studies and design a new building for the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in the federal capital.
In the same meeting, which oversees projects aligning with Islamabad’s master plan, approval was given for PC-II funding to upgrade the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and establish canine centers within Islamabad. The IDWP also greenlit the construction of buildings for eight police stations.
Officials from the capital police, district administration, and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) informed Dawn that the SPU is being revamped following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directive to enhance security for Chinese nationals in Islamabad. A plot of land has been allocated for the state-of-the-art SPU building at H-11, behind the Police Lines Headquarters. This facility will include an armory, barracks, offices, and training centers.
Officials added that the SPU requires a staff of 3,200, with 2,600 personnel already deployed. Chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Mohammad Ali Randhawa, the IDWP meeting included CDA members responsible for aligning all projects with Islamabad’s master plan.
Additionally, the meeting allocated land in H-16 for the Counter-Terrorism Department Complex, which will house barracks, offices, a CTD police station, a training center, and investigation facilities. The project aims to modernize Islamabad’s CTD following the model of Punjab’s CTD.