BANGKOK, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 50,000 handguns will be distributed to Thailand's provincial police stations throughout the country, said a police general on Saturday.

Each police station in the provinces will be provided 60 SIG Sauer P320SP semi-automatic pistols for common uses by police officers, according to Police Logistics Office Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Tinaphat Phumarin.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan will preside over the handover ceremony for the 50,000 pistols at the Police Logistics Office next Thursday.

Meanwhile, another 150,000 handguns of the same type are currently available for sale to individual police officers nationwide, Pol. Lt. Gen. Tinaphat said.

For an individual police officer, a SIG Sauer P320SP pistol sells for 23,890 baht (about 702 U.S. dollars).