Islamabad, July 12, 2025: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the country’s first specialized Riot Management Police Force, marking a big step forward in public safety and managing large crowds in the province.
This new force has been created as part of the Punjab Police to safeguard citizens’ lives, property, and government buildings.
The CM said, “The protection of public life and property is my foremost priority.” The cabinet formally gave the go-ahead for the creation of the Riot Management Police. This new unit is made up of strong, skilled, and fit officers, specially trained to handle tense situations with full professionalism.
Following her orders, an eight-week detailed training course was arranged for the first group of officers at the Police Training Center in Farooqabad. The training was based on manuals from the United States, Turkiye, Europe, and other advanced nations, and was taught by experts trained in Turkiye. During their passing-out event, officers displayed impressive crowd-control exercises meant to handle violent protests in a safe way.
In the first stage, the Riot Management Police Force has 5,000 officers, with 3,000 of them already completing their training. These officers will be posted at Punjab’s regional headquarters, with 250 officers in each area to respond quickly and effectively during unrest.
Each team of 250 officers will have support from 15 special sub-units such as First Aid Unit, Drone Surveillance Team, Crowd Engagement Team, Negotiation Team, Crowd Control Unit, Arrest Unit, Evacuation Team, K9 (dog handler) Unit, and Sniper and Tactical Response Team. The force is provided with modern equipment for managing crowds, protective uniforms, and tools for riot situations. Officers will also get extra pay based on their specific duties.
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CM Maryam Nawaz was told that the Riot Management Police are specially trained to deal with every kind of crowd, including dangerous and organized protest groups. The goal is not just to stop threats but also to talk with protesters early to stop harm to public and private property. She said, “The establishment of this force brings a new dimension to modern governance. By safely controlling angry crowds, it becomes possible to de-escalate tension and prevent chaos.”
The passing-out event at Farooqabad was attended by Additional IG Khurram Shakoor, DIG Riot Management Asad Sarfraz, and other senior officers. Top trainees like Inspector Hafiz Khurram Shahzad, Sub-Inspector Shan Ali, ASI Sajjad Riaz, Shahzad Hussain, and Head Constable Naeem Niaz were honored for their excellent performance during training.
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The CM mentioned that this new force will act professionally and wisely when handling groups that try to spread panic or disturbance, while keeping physical harm and damage to Pakistan’s reputation to a minimum. She noted, “Attacks by violent protesters not only damage property but also tarnish Pakistan’s image globally.”
She further said, “This force is not only a protective shield for the people but also a symbol of our resolve to ensure law and order through discipline, readiness, and advanced training.”
