An undated image showing Levies personnel.
QUETTA:
The Balochistan government has formally merged the Levies Force into the provincial police, abolishing all ‘B’ areas and converting them into ‘A’ areas, a move officials say resolves longstanding administrative ambiguity and ensures uniform law-enforcement across the province.
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced the decision on X, highlighting that the merger clarifies the state’s responsibilities and strengthens the framework for public safety and protection throughout Balochistan.
The cabinet approved the step, with Sibi and Loralai divisions now declared ‘A-Areas’. As per the decision, all Levies personnel, including provincial, ex-federal, and members of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Wing, have been integrated into the Balochistan Police.
The merged personnel would retain their ranks, pay scales, benefits, and existing nomenclature. Their administration will now fall under the Balochistan Police Act, 2011. The merger also involves the transfer of all infrastructure and resources of the former Levies Force to the police.
As part of a broader effort to enhance policing, the Balochistan Police have launched an accelerated training programme for former Levies personnel shifted from ‘B-Area’ duties to regular ‘A-Area’ policing. The initiative began on January 1, 2026, at the Police Training College (PTC) in Quetta.
A total of 772 ex-Levies officers are enrolled in a three-month course covering physical fitness, weapons handling, marksmanship, counter-terror preparedness, investigative skills, and legal education. Trainees are also accommodated on-site, with upgraded facilities.
PTC Commandant Shahzad Akbar said the college has added a futsal ground and resurfaced parade areas etc to improve both wellbeing and training effectiveness. “When they formally join the police, they will be better prepared to protect communities, uphold the law, and sustain peace,” he said.
The programme is part of a broader plan to strengthen crime-prevention efforts, promote community-focused policing, and rebuild public confidence in the police. Officials said these measures aim to embed professionalism, transparency, accountability, and service-oriented practices across the force.
This final merger completes a process initiated in October 2025, when six of Balochistan’s eight administrative divisions – Quetta, Kalat, Makran, Zhob, Rakhshan, and Nasirabad – were merged into the police. Sibi and Loralai had remained under Levies control until now.
Chief Minister Bugti said the step marks a historic resolution of legal ambiguities over territorial policing and reflects the government’s commitment to providing consistent security and law enforcement across all districts of Balochistan.
(WITH INPUT FROM APP)
