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An advertisement issued in Pakistani newspapers by the police force in Punjab province on Friday featured the logo of its counterpart in India's Punjab state, triggering an outcry among the people.
The development was reminiscent of the uproar in India in January when a government advertisement featured former Pakistan Air Force chief Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed alongside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Friday's advertisement, which appealed to people to remain vigilant and cooperate with the police to prevent terrorist attacks and other crimes, was carried on the front page of several English and Urdu newspapers.
The logo of the police force of India's Punjab state was placed next to the words 'Punjab Police' at the bottom of the advertisement.
Pakistan's Punjab Police chief Tariq Saleem Dogar blamed the printing company involved in the advertisement for the lapse, saying his department had provided it with the correct logo.
He said an inquiry is being conducted into the matter and action will be taken against those responsible.
"This might be a mistake of the (printers), but traditionally there is a similarity between the logos of the police in east and west Punjab. If someone has made a mistake it is the (printers) as we had only given them the ad," Dogar told the media.
The logos of the police forces in India's Punjab state and Pakistan's Punjab province are very similar -- both feature the words 'PP' surrounded by a wreath against a blue and red background.
However, the logo on the Pakistani side is topped with a star, while the Indian logo features the country's national symbol with the four lions.