Pudgy Pakistani police officers have been given until the end of the month to shrink their waistlines below 38 inches (96 centimeters) - or get off the streets.

Punjab police spokeswoman Nabila Ghazanfar said the province's police chief was determined to "turn the force into a fit one."

She declined to comment on a local media report that said 77 percent of the police in Rawalpindi had girths bigger than 38 inches around, but she acknowledged that many are overweight.

Ghazanfar said Monday that police doctors would measure the force's 175,000 officers at the end of the month. Oversized ones would be taken off operational duties, meaning less pay.

She said officers are "working out vigorously, jogging, going to the gym and dieting" to try to slim down in time.