Dogs trained at the Punjab Home Guards Canine Training and Breeding Institute at Dera Bassi are set to be deployed in far off Namibia for narcotics detection, explosive detection, tracking and anti-poaching operations.
The High Commissioner of Namibia, Wing Commander (retd.) Alex L Tukupwele, accompanied by First Secretary Tangeni H Mulunga, visited the Punjab Home Guards Canine Training and Breeding Institute (PHG-CTBI) at Sundran village on Thursday to explore the institute’s capabilities in training dogs for the surveillance operations.
The Namibian government will initially procure four trained dogs and train eight handlers at the institute, which was set up in 2016. Additional dogs and handlers from Namibia are also proposed to undergo training in subsequent phases.
The Belgian Malinois dogs will be deployed at airports, seaports and the police service.
The project is expected to not only generate revenue of nearly US $2 million for the Punjab government, but also create employment opportunities for local youth. Seven other countries from Africa are also in touch with the institute for similar canine training programmes.
Newton Sidhu, Manager of the Punjab Government’s public-private partnership (PPP)-run Punjab Home Guards Canine Training and Breeding Institute, said, “PHG-CTBI has trained more than 418 dogs and handlers to date. The trained canine units are currently serving with various Central Armed Police Forces, paramilitary forces and state police organisations across India.”