The Punjab government has proposed renaming police stations across the province as part of an effort to reform the police system and address the long-standing “thana culture.”
According to government sources, the proposal seeks to rename police stations as “public safety centers,” replacing the 150-year-old colonial-era term “thana.” The process will begin after final approval from the provincial cabinet.
Sources said the PML-N government is seriously considering the proposal. Officials told The Express Tribune that the word “thana” has become associated with fear and discourages citizens from approaching police stations. The proposed change aims to help people seek justice and file complaints without hesitation.
Punjab currently has more than 500 police stations and around 100 police check posts. After cabinet approval, authorities will take the required constitutional and legal steps to implement the renaming.
However, District Bar President Sardar Manzar Bashir, Assistant Attorney General Masood Shah, and secretary candidate Mehran Ejaz Anwar Chaudhry said that changing names would not bring real reform. They said meaningful change depends on improvements in police behavior and public dealings rather than terminology.
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