ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police have launched a ‘mounted patrolling unit’ — policemen on horseback — to keep people safe on the capital’s hiking trails and parks safe, officials said, with the move drawing appreciation from the public in a city known for its hills, greenery and trees.
Islamabad’s hiking trails are one of the most attractive natural landscapes in the federal capital and out of an estimated thirty identified trails on the Margalla Hills, the city’s administration has developed six for public use. Hundreds, including women, children, and foreigners, visit the trails daily for hiking and recreational purposes.
According to Islamabad police, the mounted patrolling unit was launched on June 22 this year and can now be seen on duty.
The office of the inspector general of Islamabad police said Margalla was a national park which fell under the supervision of the chief commissioner and chairman Capital Development Authority. The mounted patrolling unit was deployed by the inspector general of police in consultation with the chief commissioner.
“We wanted to increase our security surveillance, so that’s why we came up with the idea of introducing a trained horse mounted squad for Margalla Hills and recreational areas such as parks,” Beenish Uzair, an assistant superintendent of police, told Arab News.
“They will increase the police accessibility across the trail. They can reach up and down the mountain, up and down the trail in significantly less amount of time.”
A visitor interacts with police officials on horses on Trail 5, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on July 1, 2022. (AN Photo)
Police initially considered deploying a motorbike patrolling unit, Uzair said, but realized it might be harmful to the environment.
“Horses do not disturb the environment. They will not tarnish your plants, they will not destroy the terrain, the natural terrain,” the policewoman said. “Even when the duty is going on, it [horse unit] is maintaining the overall natural environment ... rather adding to the scenic beauty of the area.”
Replying to a question on concerns raised by visitors about possible attacks by wild animals, including leopards that live on the trails, due to the presence of the horses on the trails, Uzair said she was not concerned as horses would be always accompanied by well trained police officials.
“We do not leave them unattended, there are people attached to each horse, and rather a whole group of people,” she said, adding that the public had largely responded positively to the launch of the police horses.
Islamabad's newly launched mounted patrolling unit seen on Trail 5 in Islamabad, Pakistan, on July 1, 2022. (AN Photo)
Speaking to Arab News, Rina Saeed Khan, chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), said she had so far not received any complaints regarding the movement of the horses on the trails.
“No one from our guards, board members or any citizen has complained about it so far,” she said, adding that while IWMB had a clear policy of not allowing domestic animals on the trail, security was an administrative matter.
Ishfaq Ahmed, a constable from the new police unit, said officers would patrol the city’s hiking trails and the F-9 park and also answer distress calls on the police emergency hotline, 15.
“We are deployed on patrolling duty on Trails 5 and 3, and the F-9 park,” Ahmed said. “During patrolling, whenever we receive a call through 15, we move immediately to reach there and sort the issue.”
Most complaints, he said, were about purse and mobile theft and the harassment of women.
The move to bring in the police horses has proved popular among Islamabad’s residents.
Dr. Ejaz Naseem, a regular visitor of Trail 5, called the presence of police officers on horses a “good initiative” that would help curb illegal activities on the trails.
“Definitely it [police horses] will curtail illegal things happening in these areas,” Naseem said. “There are wild animals also. The horses can go very fast on these trails as compared to other bikes and things so they are ideal for these terrains.”
Islamabad's newly launched mounted patrolling unit assembles on Trail 5 in Islamabad, Pakistan, on July 1, 2022. (AN Photo)
Wajiha Sahar, a student who had come to hike with a friend, said the police unit’s presence had increased the sense of security and protection, especially among female hikers.
“We usually come in groups, with university friends or family because it’s in our minds that it’s not very safe to travel alone here,” she told Arab News. “Now as this team we are seeing, they are patrolling here on horses. So, we feel more secure. We are happy to know that now there is complete protection.”
