KARACHI: Sindh police chief Javed Alam Odho on Wednesday visited the office of the SITE Association of Industry (SAI), where he met with industrialists and traders, who expressed satisfaction over the general law and order situation in Karachi, saying that no incident of extortion was reported to the SAI.
While they acknowledged a clear reduction in the crime rate in the SITE Area compared to other districts, they voiced concerns over mugging and snatching incidents, especially those leaving the bank with cash being targeted.
Discussing traffic issues, the traders cited wrong-way driving, unfit heavy vehicles, encroachments, and illegal bus shelters along major highways as serious problems. They stressed the need for police and modern machinery. While discussing economic issues, they said that in the current global scenario, the positive role of Pakistan’s peace and stability should be taken advantage of.
IGP Odho said the SITE Area is the oldest and most important industrial centre of not only Karachi but also the country. Industries drive the country’s economy, he added. “There were complaints of an increase in crime, but now the overall situation is better across the province.”
He said street crime has been a major problem in Karachi, but the SITE Area is relatively safe. He also said that the traffic problem is structural. Due to the installation of modern cameras, the enforcement of traffic laws and awareness campaigns, traffic discipline is improving, with a clear reduction in fatal accidents, he added. Regarding extortion, he said that this problem does not exist on a large scale in Karachi, adding that where complaints are received, immediate action is taken. He made the assurance that those involved in extortion would be brought to justice.
He also said that more than 40,000 cameras have been installed, and traders have been urged to instal more cameras so that they can be connected to the Safe City system. He declared that hiding or tampering with vehicle number plates is a crime, saying that action is being taken against it. He said police do not want to involve citizens in cases unnecessarily, but violation of the law would not be tolerated.
He said that no-go areas in slum areas were eliminated with the use of drone technology, with more than 500 dangerous suspects killed, arrested or surrendered. He also said that new recruitments are under way in the police department, but in the future, they would mostly depend on technology, CCTV cameras and smart policing.
Odho said that under the Safe City project, a panic button is being introduced, through which citizens would be able to get help immediately, and the incident would be automatically recorded.
Regarding aerial firing, he stressed that action would be taken against those who fire gunshots in the air at weddings as well as the groom and his family. He said the SHOs concerned are strictly bound to implement the SOP.
He assured the traders that police have been keeping in touch with them at all levels, and all possible steps would be taken to maintain law and order.
