KARACHI: Expressing serious concerns over an alarming increase in the menace of street crimes in the metropolis, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the authorities on Sunday to make coordinated efforts to purge Karachi of criminal activities.

Taking strong exception to the incidents of kidnapping of children in the city, the PM sought a coordinated action against the criminals and directed the law enforcers to immediately recover the abducted children to provide relief to their parents.

The PM issued these directives while chairing a high-level meeting to review the state of law and order here at the State Guest House.

The meeting was also attended by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Corps Commander Lt Gen Hamayun Aziz, Chief Secretary retired Major Azam Sulaiman, Home Secretary Abdul Qadir Qazi, Rangers director general Maj Gen Muhammad Saeed, Inspector General of Police Dr Syed Kaleem Imam, Karachi Commissioner Sualeh Farooqi and others.

Assuring his full support to the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government, the prime minister said that the maintenance of law and order was his top priority because without peace and stability economic potentials of the country could not be harnessed.

Visits Quaid’s mausoleum, reviews uplift projects in Karachi

The Sindh chief secretary gave a detailed briefing on law and order in the province in general and Karachi in particular.

The Rangers director general also gave a presentation on the ongoing Karachi operation that was launched in Sept 2013 and the role of the paramilitary force in it.

The meeting was informed that the rate of heinous crimes in the metropolis had dropped by 90 per cent as a result of the Karachi operation.

The PM observed that the overall situation in Karachi had improved significantly owing to the devotion and sacrifices of law enforcement agencies.

“Karachi is the financial capital of Pakistan... the federal government will continue to offer full support to the provincial government for law and order maintenance,” he said, stressing the need for a better coordination among the agencies at federal and provincial levels to maintain peace and security across the country.

The issue of kidnapping of children in Karachi also came under discussion and the PM directed the authorities concerned to urgently recover the children and make coordinated efforts against criminals.

Meeting on development projects

The prime minister expressed concern over the issue of water shortage in Karachi when he was informed that the city was facing a shortage of 573 million gallons daily as the demand had reached 918mgd.

The PM also chaired a meeting on development projects funded by the federal government, particularly the Green Line bus rapid transit project and the K-IV water supply project.

The meeting was attended by the governor, the CM, chief secretary Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar and other senior officials of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the provincial government.

The PM emphasised on enhanced coordination between the federal and provincial governments for co-funded projects, including the K-IV.

The prime minister appreciated measures being taken for cleanliness in the metropolis.

He directed to expedite the efforts being made to provide the much-needed relief to the people.

While discussing the Green Line project, the PM directed the authorities that a Karachi Metropolitan Corporation representative should be included in the board of directors.

Earlier, accompanied by the Sindh governor and chief minister, the prime minister planted a sapling on the premises of the State Guest House.

He also held a meeting with the governor and chief minister.

Visit to Quaid’s mausoleum

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Khan arrived in Karachi on his first official visit to the city after taking oath as the PM on Aug 18.

Governor Ismail and CM Shah received him at the airport, from where he drove straight to the Quaid’s mausoleum.

The PM laid a wreath and offered Fateha to pay homage to the founder of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

He also visited the graves of Madar-i-Millat Fatima Jinnah and Shaheed-i-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan and offered Fateha.

At the same time, families of missing persons and the sacked employees of the National Database and Registration Authority gathered outside the mausoleum near the VIP gate in a bid to meet the PM to air their grievances.

However, the police stopped them from meeting the PM.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2018