The protection of citizens and foreigners in Pakistan was among the top priorities of the state, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday, as the country deals with the law and order situation and the rise in terrorism.

“Any kind of negligence in maintaining law and order and protecting citizens will not be tolerated,” he said while presiding over a meeting via video link in Lahore regarding law and order and security projects in Islamabad.

Officials briefed the forum on the law and order situation in Islamabad and Islamabad Model Jail, Islamabad Safe City, Federal Anti-Terrorism Department and Special Protection Unit.

They also spoke about the Islamabad National Facility Centres and K-9 unit established for the identification and tracking of narcotics and explosives.

The prime minister called for conducting an inquiry into the delay in the completion of the Islamabad Model Jail. The project should be completed “as soon as possible” keeping in view the requirements of modern times, he said.

PM Shehbaz directed the participants to construct a vocational training institute and hospital in Islamabad Model Prison. Chinese experts should be consulted for the formation of a Special Protection Unit, he said and called for constructing a forensic lab according to modern requirements in the Islamabad Safe City project.

He issued instructions to ensure recruitment of manpower on the basis of merit, and provision of technology as per international standards and modern requirements for all security projects in Islamabad.