Islamabad – The federal capital’s police force is facing an unprecedented manpower crisis as stalled recruitment, frozen allowances, VIP security pressures, and a surge in resignations leave Islamabad Police stretched to a breaking point. Internal sources reveal that the force is operating with dangerously low personnel levels, while new appointments remain halted due to ongoing legal battles and allegations of corruption in previous recruitment cycles. With thousands of sanctioned posts vacant, senior officials warn that the department is losing trained manpower faster than it can legally replace it.
Officers say the financial strain has become unsustainable, with key allowances unchanged for 15 to 20 years, including a ration allowance of Rs. 1,038, washing allowance of Rs. 150, federal police allowance of Rs. 65, medical allowance of Rs. 1,500, and conveyance allowance still pegged to 2005 at Rs. 1,932. These outdated figures fail to match Islamabad’s sharp rise in living costs, pushing many officers into part-time work such as ride-hailing or private security just to keep their households afloat. Internal records suggest that nearly 7,000 personnel have left the force in the past two years, citing financial stress, lack of incentives, and deteriorating working conditions.
The crisis is intensified by the overwhelming VIP security load, which routinely diverts large portions of the force away from core policing duties, leaving limited staff for patrolling, investigations, or emergency response. Several officers who resigned also point to inappropriate behaviour, mistreatment, and a toxic internal culture as reasons for leaving, claiming there is no effective grievance mechanism available to them. Some police officials went missing and some didn’t return to join once getting leave. Reports also claim that whereabouts of some police official are still unknown.
Unlike police forces in other major cities, Islamabad Police do not receive any Capital or Big City Allowance, despite their highly sensitive operational environment and responsibility for diplomatic missions, foreign delegations, and federal leadership.
Although summaries proposing an increase in allowances have reportedly been forwarded to the Ministry of Interior, there has been no meaningful progress. Islamabad Police were formally approached for clarification on these issues, but IG Islamabad did not respond to the questions asked. With recruitment stalled, morale declining, and existing officers overworked and under-supported, senior officials warn that the force’s operational capacity is at risk of serious deterioration, placing the security of the federal capital in jeopardy.
