In 1947 Pakistan inherited a police system from the British that was more than 80 years old. The emphasis was on police intimidation of citizens as a means of deterring them from crime. The concepts of service to and cooperation with the community were not paramount. Among the serious constraints that have undermined the current police system of Pakistan are an outdated legal and institutional framework, arbitrary and impulsive management of the police by the executive authority at every level, poor incentive systems, widespread corruption, and severe lack of resources for the enforcement of the law and maintenance of order. The thrust of police reform should be toward the creation of a police system that is politically neutral, non-authoritarian, accountable and responsive to the community, professionally efficient, and an instrument of the rule of law. In November 1999, the Government of Pakistan established the Focal Group on Police Reforms for the purpose of generating recommendations for the fundamental restructuring of the police. Simultaneously, the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) decided to accord high priority to police reforms as part of its good governance and devolution-of-powers efforts. As a first step toward reform, the NRB concluded that responsibility for the maintenance of law and order must rest with the police rather than with political executives. Efforts to render the police professionally competent, operationally neutral, functionally cohesive, and organizationally responsible for all its actions was institutionalized in the Police Ordinance of 2002. The NRB also decided to establish public safety commissions at national, provincial, and district levels to provide oversight of certain critical aspects of police functioning. Further, the role, duties, and responsibilities of police have been redefined to reflect service and crime-prevention functions. Reform efforts have also focused on meeting community needs and expectations. In addition, the reform strategy aims to establish an independent Prosecution Service in each Province to improve the quality of both investigation and prosecution. 24 references