KARACHI: The military establishment on Saturday hinted that the ‘Karachi operation’, which has been going on for the last five years, is not going to end anytime soon and efforts from the armed forces would continue to “further improve the city’s security environment” in the days to come.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), senior officials expressed the resolve during a visit of Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa to the Pakistan Rangers Sindh Headquarters. He was briefed about the progress and ongoing efforts for maintaining peace in Karachi and other parts of Sindh.

“DG Rangers Sindh Major General Muhammad Saeed gave a detailed briefing about security situation of the province, including law and order in Karachi. The army chief appreciated efforts of Pakistan Rangers Sindh and all other law enforcing agencies towards improving the security environment,” the statement added.

The Rangers-led operation — which was launched in Sept 2013 — has improved the security situation in the city to a large extent as peace was restored to residential and commercial areas after years of bloodshed on sectarian, ethnic and political grounds. However, the city has witnessed a sudden surge in other criminal activities in recent months with street crimes being the top challenge for the law-enforcement and security agencies.

The army chief’s message to continue efforts for “further improvement” and sustainable peace in Karachi suggested that the paramilitary force-led exercise, which had already completed its five years, would continue.

“[The] COAS said that Karachi is the engine of national economy and we shall further improve its security environment so that positive business trajectory is maintained,” the ISPR said, adding that Karachi Corps Commander Lieutenant General Humayun Aziz accompanied the army chief during his visit.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2018