Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho said on Wednesday that a major crackdown under ‘Operation Najat Mehran’ had cleared the Kutcha areas of dacoits, while crime rates in Karachi had witnessed a significant decline.
He was speaking during a meeting with the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), attended by senior police officials and industrialists. The IGP said that since January, the operation had resulted in 32 dacoits being killed, over 100 arrested, and 225 surrendering, adding that the affected areas had now been cleared, allowing residents to move freely without fear.
Highlighting improvements in Karachi’s law and order situation, Odho said that motorcycle snatching had decreased by 54 percent, vehicle snatching by 48 percent, and mobile phone snatching by 35 percent in March compared to the same period last year. He also noted a sharp decline of up to 88 percent in murders during robbery incidents.
He stressed that public cooperation was essential for sustaining these gains and announced that task force meetings would be held regularly in collaboration with stakeholders. The IGP said the Safe City Project had entered its second phase, under which over 2,200 modern surveillance cameras, including facial recognition systems, were being installed across Karachi. He added that traffic management was also being improved, with stricter enforcement and registration of FIRs against violations.
Responding to concerns of industrialists, Odho said additional police mobiles would be provided to stations in the Korangi Industrial Area on a priority basis. He also highlighted the need to address drug addiction, linking it to street crime, and urged institutions to support rehabilitation centres.
Earlier, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput paid tribute to the Sindh Police for their sacrifices in combating terrorism and crime. He stressed that improving law and order was vital for business confidence and called for early completion of the Safe City Project. He also emphasised the need for stronger investigation systems, police
reforms, and greater use of technology to ensure justice and accountability.
Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya said the Korangi Industrial Area accounted for around 9 percent of Pakistan’s total exports, underlining its economic importance. He noted that improved security had helped address issues such as blackmailing of industrialists through coordinated efforts with law enforcement.
Other speakers, including business leaders and police officials, acknowledged improvements in the city’s security situation and called for continued collaboration between police and the business community.
