Press Release

Netherlands Government contributes USD 2.5 million to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice in Balochistan

Islamabad, 1 November 2012.

The Netherlands Government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) signed an agreement today regarding the Netherlands' contribution of USD 2.5 million in support of the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice programme in Balochistan.  The agreement of 3 years was signed in the presence of the Inspector General of the Police of Balochistan by the country representative of UNODC, Mr. Jeremy Douglas, and by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Gajus Scheltema.

The Balochistan programme aims to achieve more effective delivery of law enforcement services and more effective prosecution of criminal cases. More specifically, UNODC will work with the law enforcement agencies to improve their internal management, to strengthen the institutional capacity for police training, to enhance crime scene investigation skills and to increase awareness about human trafficking. As for the prosecutors, UNODC will focus on mainstreaming their in-service training, improvement of case management and monitoring as well as on strengthening the cooperation between police and prosecutors.

Speaking on the occasion, the Inspector General thanked UNODC and the Netherlands Government for their continuing support to criminal justice capacity in Balochistan. The Balochistan Police is working closely together with its partners to improve capacity of law enforcement and criminal justice systems in the vulnerable province, which has been receiving increased international attention.

Ambassador Scheltema expressed his confidence in the successful implementation of the programme, recognizing the many challenges that will have to be addressed. In that context, he mentioned the critical importance of strong partnership and transparency among and between police, prosecutors, other stakeholders and UNODC. He also elaborated on the Netherlands Government's foreign policy priorities in Pakistan of safety, security, stability and human rights and explained that Dutch support for the programme in Balochistan was based on these policy priorities. In his final statements, Ambassador Scheltema emphasized that security and stability in Balochistan will enhance investments, trade, and businesses, creating new employment and livelihood opportunities.

In his intervention, Mr. Douglas thanked Ambassador Scheltema and the Netherlands Government for the support to this critical initiative that will strengthen key criminal justice institutions in Balochistan. Mr Douglas further thanked Inspector General Mr. Tarik Umar Khitab for his continued commitment, and noted the sacrifices made by the Balochistan Police in implementing their important mandate.