KARACHI, March 27: An industrial peacekeeping force would be raised by the development and management companies of Korangi, Landhi, North Karachi and Federal B Area industrial estates to maintain law and order in their respective areas.

Following a three-day period of loot, arson and plundering in Sindh that cost business billions of rupees losses after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, caretaker Industries and Labour Minister of Sindh Arif Khan Abbasi advised the industrial community to share responsibility of law and order with the provincial government.

For this, the institutional arrangement is being set in place, after the government decided to give Rs2 billion to the four companies set up under private-public sector partnership to manage and develop four industrial estates in Karachi.

Each of the management and development companies has been given Rs250 million by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, while a matching fund of same amount will be given by the federal government.

“The idea is of self governance, including the maintenance of law and order by the industry itself,” Arif Abbasi said while explaining the concept of industrial peacekeeping force in each of four industrial estates, which reported incidents of loot and arson in their areas after Dec 27 for three consecutive days.

The industrial peacekeeping force would be recruited by the development and management company that would also pay the wages.

“The management of each of these four companies will be required to give details of cost of construction and security equipment, like installations of cameras at strategic points,” he explained.

He said that the industrialists had been advised to shut down all street cafes and ‘Jhuggi’ hotels in their areas. Instead, the factories should have such eating outlets within their boundaries or at the designated places, which should be looked after by the staff registered with them.

“Street corner cafes and informal eating outlets have proved to be crime dens,” he said. The cafes and eating outlets registered with the management and the development company of industrial estates will offer quality service, good food and drinks at reasonable prices and ensure an effective vigilance on those, who come to eat and drink.

Another significant feature of the plan is to develop fire fighting facilities in each of the four industrial estates. While each of the factories in the area is expected to have its own fire safety measures against any mishap or accident, the companies are being advised to seek guidance from retired officials of Pakistan Navy, who are reputed to be better qualified in fire fighting.

The main roads will be developed by the management and development companies, while the link roads and arteries will be constructed by the factories.

“A total investment of Rs2 billion in next one or two years in four industrial estates should create an investor-friendly environment,” Arif Abbasi hopes.

He said that Sindh still remained the most attractive place for investors from home and abroad.