(7 September 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said that Karachi rating on international crime index has declined to 69 given to the military operation against terrorism in Karachi for which civil military leadership deserved congratulations. However, Karachi’s crime rating is still 58 percent and safety rating is 42 percent; Sindh Police is responsible for improvement of situation.
The veteran business leader while talking to the business community said that appointment of Dr. Amir Shaikh as police chief is helpful in improving the performance of Karachi police given to his high qualification and serving on leading positions in Sindh Police. He had obtained masters degree in Criminology from London School of Economics and Political Science. He served as DIG Finance, Traffic, Rapid Response Force, Crime Investigation Department, Commandant Police Training Center Saeedabad, DIG South, East, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur and SSP investigation. He has brought major reforms in traffic rules. He formed computerized database for traffic challans and connected the driving licenses to it. He introduced the concept of friendly policing and took various measures to develop Police community links.
The former minister said that overall crime situation in Karachi has been improved however, street crimes could not curbed, rather in the last 6 months gradual increase has been observed in the street crimes. Karachities have been deprived of 16,000 mobile phones, 400 cars and 11,000 motorcycles after recovery, given to the ongoing street crimes in the city. Kidnapping for ransom has decreased significantly, only 5 incidents have been reported so far while 30 incidents of extortion have also been reported. Ratio of snatching is far higher in the industrial areas which need special measures.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that the safe city project needs early implementation in order to make the biggest metropolis city of Pakistan. Currently so far 3,000 cameras have been installed in 300 different places, which cannot suffice the city’s needs. Last year, video surveillance projected was approved under which 10,000 cameras to be installed on 2,000 spots in the city. The safe city project needs to be initiated immediately after taking all stake holders in confidence. Sindh Government needs to take collective measure with Sindh Police to develop the force on modern lines and use all available resources to make Karachi a safe city.
