KARACHI, Oct 28: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, expressing satisfaction over police performance during the holy month of Ramazan, have collectively announced Rs3 million reward for police. The amount comprises Rs one million announced by the CM and and Rs 2 million by the governor.

Addressing a dinner reception hosted by Karachi City Police in honour of police officers and staff here at Police Headquarters on Friday night, they lauded the efforts of police in maintaining peace and ensuring smooth traffic flow during Ramazan and Eid-ul-Fitr.

Advisor to Sindh chief minister for Home Affairs, Wasim Akhtar, IGP Sindh Jehangir Mirza, Capital City Police Officer Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui, DIG Operations and other senior police officers and staff were also present.

Mr Ibad said despite limited resources available at the disposal of police, they have been giving fruitful results for the last five years as they have successfully nabbed dangerous terrorists and apprehended proclaimed criminals.

He said that Karachi police without any extra forces and resources successfully combated the terrorism as well as routine crime and the success ratio, which was about 80 percent, was laudable.

Referring to the tracking down of terrorists by police during past years, the governor said the success rate of police has been 80 per cent.

He pointed out that 44 police officials were killed during the last 10 months in different encounters which, he said, is the manifestation of responsiveness and serious efforts of police towards controlling crimes in the province.

''Maintaining peaceful and secure environment in Karachi is a must, as it is the economic engine of Pakistan'', Ibad said, adding that the role of Karachi police was satisfactory, but still a lot needs to be done.

Ibad said that terrorism casts negative impact on the image of any country and unfortunately Pakistan, especially Karachi, was badly affected by terrorism for few years.

''There was a fear about terrorism, rise in street crime and traffic mess during Ramazan but due to better planning and effective measures of the police department no unpleasant incident occurred,'' he noted adding that people and traders also showed their satisfaction over the security arrangements.

Ibad stressed the need for improving the image of police department in the masses by their performance, behavior and positive response and said without the help of citizens, the police could not control crime in the metropolis.

He said a planned move was made to ensure smooth traffic flow during Ramazan with the help of IGP Sindh, CCPO and DIG Traffic. He said 11 roads of the city were identified as critical with regard to management of traffic. A strategy was devised in which volunteers of City Government were also engaged to achieve this goal successfully.

The governor announced a grant of Rs20 lakh for the police officials who performed better during the month of Ramazan. He also assured to provide all possible cooperation to improve the performance of police.

Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim appreciating the performance of Karachi police, especially during Ramazan, hoped that efforts for combating crime in the metropolis would be continued.

He said that performance of Karachi police was better than the other police as despite less resources and force, police had nabbed a number of gangs involved in terrorism and other crimes during last few months.

The government, he said, was taking steps to provide better facilities and solve their basic problems. He said that establishment of police hospital in Hyderabad and increase in salary equal to the salary of Punjab police were steps in this regard.—APP