LAHORE : The Crime Control Department (CCD) has reported a significant decline in serious crime in Lahore during the past year, with overall major crime falling by 58 per cent following the department’s establishment.
According to the CCD Lahore performance report, 29,471 serious crime incidents were reported in the year before the department’s creation, compared with 12,470 cases during the following year. The report was released as the department continued province-wide operations against criminals under the supervision of Additional IG CCD Sohail Zafar Chatha.
Murder cases declined by 36 per cent, dropping from 399 to 254, while dacoity incidents decreased by 53 per cent from 72 to 34 cases. Robbery showed the sharpest decline, falling by 77 per cent from 8,649 incidents to 1,990.
The report said murders committed during dacoities decreased by 25 per cent, while incidents involving injuries during dacoities also recorded a noticeable reduction.
A 100 per cent decline was recorded in rape-cum-murder cases, with eight incidents reported before the establishment of CCD and none during the past year.
Vehicle-related crimes also showed a marked decrease. Motorcycle snatching fell by 74 per cent, motorcycle theft by 49 per cent and car theft by 75 per cent. Car theft cases dropped from 379 before CCD to 94 after its establishment. Burglary incidents also decreased by 46 per cent.
The report noted that one CCD officer embraced martyrdom and 46 others were injured while conducting operations against organised and heinous crime during the year.
A CCD spokesperson said the decline in crime reflected the department’s effective performance. He said officers and personnel were working round the clock and making sacrifices to help make Punjab a crime-free province, adding that efforts against serious crime would continue with public cooperation.
