(12 October, 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 has vital role in the economy of Pakistan and contributes in collecting 70 percent of the national exchequer. Pakistan Army, Rangers and Sindh Police have sacrificed a lot to restore the lights of the city and improve the trade and industry environment.
The veteran business leader while talking to the business community said that despite being the economic and industrial hub of the Country, Karachi has been deprived of the safe city project. According to CPLC statistics, 20 thousands incidents of street crimes have taken place in just last three months in which 394 four wheeler, 8 thousand motorcycles and 10 thousand mobile phones have been snatched from the citizens. In counter actions from LEAs 38 percent four wheeler, 18 percent motorcycles and only 5 percent mobile phones have been recovered. The previous govt. has completed Lahore safe city project with the cost of Rs. 12 billion and approved the same for 6 mega cities in Punjab including Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala and Sargodha, where construction is under process. Safe city project has initiated in Karachi but on the charges of Rs. 550 million corruptions NAB intervened and the project has been stopped before its inauguration. In all mega cities across globe, safe city projects are playing effective role in the security of citizens, curbing criminal activities and traffic management, but unfortunately Karachi is still deprived of such important project for the security of its citizens. Government of Sindh should take immediate measures to re initiate Karachi safe city project in addition to other mega cities in the province.
The former minister said that the safe city project will not only enhance the security of citizens in the City but will also play significant role in improving the City’s economy. With reduction in crime rate in the city, investors will get attract thus existing trade will boost and new investment opportunities of will open in the City.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that safe city project will also help in traffic management of the Mega City. Annually, 35,000 traffic accidents take place in Karachi causing loss of hundreds of valued lives and body parts of many. Violation of traffic rules is among the basic causes of these accidents including over speeding, violation of one-way and driving without license. Safe city project will ensure the implementation of traffic rules through modern surveillance techniques.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that rate of recovery of lost or snatched valuables will also be improved with safe city project; sense of accountability will be increased amongs the law enforcement agencies personnel, counter terrorism will get faster and busting criminal elements will get improved. Initiatives taken by AIG Sindh Dr. Munir Shaikh are supportive towards rule of law in the City.
