LAHORE: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information Firdous Ashig Awan says even though other heinous crimes have dropped in Punjab, pornography, rape and child abuse cases have increased.

She said Prime Minister Imran Khan had given targets to the Punjab police, in particular, and across the country, in general, to control pornography, rape and child abuse crime.

Ms Awan flanked by ChiefMinister Usman Buzdar and Law Minister Basharat Raja was speaking to reporters at Chief Minister`s Secretariat to explain about police reforms as briefed to the prime minister.

She said the Punjab police`s perception among the public was too bad and they generally feared to visit police stations. In the wake of these circumstances, she said, the Punjab government had planned revamping of `thana culture` incorpor ating transparent investigations, merit-based postings and accountability of police of ficers.

She said the prime minister hadalso directed that women not be exploited in police stations and given due respect and in case of crime, investigated in conformity with the socio-culture and religious obligations. She said the prime minister would speak up on journalists` retrenchment and added that she was also on board and planning to tackle the issue in consultation with the journalists` organizations.

About writing off Rs300 billion loan, she dubbed the news a mere disinformation and added that contradiction had been issued.

Inspector General of Policeretired Capt Arif Nawaz said the police was dealing 80 per cent of people`s petty issues, while only 20 per cent of the matters were about crimes, including five per cent hardcore crime.

In order to deal with the petty crime, he said, Police Khidmat Markaz had been established and police was now focusing on hardcore crime only. A School of Investigation will be launched by the end of this year while public feedback about revamping of thana culture would be assessed by researchers from the Harvard University and LUMS.