KARACHI, July 19: Governor Sindh Muhammedmian Soomro has directed the authorities concerned to take effective and coordinated steps for elimination of extortion of money.

He issued these directives while presiding over a high-level meeting on law & order at the governor’s house on Friday.

Director-general rangers, Sindh Maj-Gen Salahuddin, principal secretary to governor, Brig Akhtar Zamin, IG police Sindh, Syed Kamal Shah, home secretary Brig Mukhtar Ahmed, capital city police chief, Asad Jehangir, commander rangers Brig Kazmi, DIG police (operations) Tariq Jamil and other high officials attended the meeting.

The governor said the curse of extortion left an impact on trade and investment as negative as that of bomb blasts.

He stressed that the elements demanding donations forcibly should also be placed under watch as it also amounted to extortion.

“The generous people of Karachi contribute much more in education, health and other welfare activities as compared to other people of the country”, he said, adding that unhindered trade and investment activities in Karachi, which was the economic lifeline of the country, would guarantee development, welfare and provision of job opportunities for the entire country.

He further said that it was the collective responsibility of all of us to ensure an extortion-free and peaceful atmosphere, conducive to economic activities in Karachi and other parts of the province.

The governor also directed that measures against car-lifters and others anti-social elements be stepped up. Earlier, the governor was apprised of the law & order situation and the steps being taken in that regard.—PPI