Amara Athar Appointed First Female CTO in Lahore

The Punjab government has appointed Amara Athar, a BS-19 police officer, as the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) of Lahore, marking a historic move as the first woman to hold this key traffic control role in the provincial capital. This decision reflects the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Usman Anwar’s commitment to promoting female officers in field assignments, challenging the long-standing tradition of male-dominated policing in the region.

Amara Athar replaces the retired Capt Mustansar Feroz, who served as the Lahore CTO for the past year. The decision to appoint a woman to this influential position came despite several male contenders, emphasizing the IGP’s dedication to prioritizing female officers for significant roles. This approach aligns with the success of another female officer, Ayesha Butt, who earned appreciation for her reforms as the CTO in Gujranwala.

Ayesha Butt’s notable achievements include establishing Pakistan’s first traffic theme park in Gujranwala, aimed at promoting public awareness about traffic rules. Recognizing her accomplishments, the Sindh Police requested the Punjab Police to share this innovative scheme. In acknowledgment of her outstanding services, Ayesha Butt and her team received a cash award from the IGP.

The appointment of female officers in key positions has proven successful in bringing positive changes. Lahore Investigation SSP Dr. Anoosh Masood Chaudhry, for instance, demonstrated exceptional performance in handling cases and collecting evidence. Her effective resolution of high-profile cases, including murder and robbery, played a pivotal role in encouraging the Punjab police chief to appoint a woman officer as the Lahore CTO.

Other notable female officers appointed by the IGP in Lahore include Sadar Division SP Sidra Khan, Crime Record Office (CRO) SP Aqeela Naqvi, and Gulberg ASP Syeda Shehar Bano. Syeda Shehar Bano, in particular, has been recognized as the “most inspiring female police officer” and nominated for the World Summit Award-2024 in Dubai.

Ammara Athar, the newly appointed CTO, previously served as the SP in Model Town, Lahore. The outgoing CTO, Mustansar Feroz, has been reassigned to the Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Feroz’s performance as the Lahore CTO earned him the preference for the PSCA COO post over two other applicants, Elite Force DIG Sadiq Dogar and DIG Syed Amin Bukhar.

In addition to these changes, the chief security officer of the Punjab Chief Minister, Hamza Amanullah, has been transferred and posted as the Personal Staff Officer (PSO) to Punjab IGP, vice Sahib Zada Bilal Umar, who has been reassigned as AIG admin at the Central Police Office. These appointments and transfers underscore a strategic reshuffling within the police hierarchy, emphasizing a mix of experience and performance in key roles.