ISLAMABAD, Oct 28: The government will install surveillance cameras at strategic places in all the four provincial capitals and Islamabad, Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat told a delegation comprising chief executive officers of Dutch multinational companies operating in Pakistan.

The delegation, which called on the minister at his office on Tuesday, consisted of representatives of Shell, Philips P&O Nedlloyd and the ABN Amro Bank.

The discussion was largely focused on the security concerns of these companies, a source in the interior ministry said.

The minister assured the delegation that complete security would be provided to all the foreign nationals, particularly investors. “We would make efforts to provide physical as well as psychological comfort and security to the foreigners living in Pakistan,” he said.

He said there was no place in the world where security conditions were ideal. “In the world crime ranking, Karachi stands 31. However, the situation in many European capitals is worst,” he said.

“In Pakistan, the picture is blown out of proportion because of the negative portrayal by the Western media,” he added.

He said the government was taking several measures for better security and bringing down crime rate in the country. These measures included establishment of forensic science laboratory, national criminal database, finger print checking system and DNA testing laboratory.

A source in the interior ministry told Dawn that security cameras were being installed at all important buildings and places in the capital.

Similarly, different government departments and private organizations had been advised to install cameras at their buildings to avoid chances of terrorism.

In this connection, cameras have been installed at the buildings of the Central Board of Revenue, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament House, National Accountability Bureau, Foreign Office, PTV headquarters and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, sources said.

They said cameras would also be installed at public places, like main commercial centres, parks, diplomatic enclave and highways. A surveillance camera has also been installed at the entry point of Islamabad in Faizabad.