KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved a proposal to establish the Sindh Safe City Authority and provincial forensic commission.

Presiding over a high-level meeting here on Friday, the chief minister said that the Sindh Safe City Authority should be established first so that it could implement various components of the safe city project including CCTV installation.

He pointed out that as the project was jointly handled by the Sindh information technology department and the IT wing of the Sindh police, there was a need of an independent authority to execute the project.

Referring to the forensic lab, he said that the Sindh Forensic Commission may be constituted so that it could launch and complete the project with required expertise.

He directed the chief secretary to work out all the requirements for establishment of the forensic commission and submit his report in the next cabinet meeting.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Dr Kaleem Iman gave a briefing to the CM stating that Rs10 million had been approved by the government for the feasibility study.

The CM orders civic bodies to be prepared in view of forecast of heavy rain in Karachi

He said 25,000 CCTV cameras had been installed on different locations in the city and were being monitored through the command and control centre established at the IG Office.

Besides, a Rs200m scheme was launched to install 10,000 CCTV cameras on different city locations and for this purpose Rs10m had been allocated in the current financial year.

The chief minister asked Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah to present the draft of the Safe City Authority in the next meeting of the cabinet for approval.

Land acquired in Malir for forensic lab

Home Secretary Kazi Kabir briefed the chief minister that 30 acres had been acquired for establishment of a forensic science lab in deh Jorejio, taluka Bin Qasim, Malir.

The project would be completed in three years.

The main services to be offered by the lab include audio-visual analysis; computer forensic, crime scene and death scene investigation, DNA and serology, forensic photography, narcotics, toxicology, trace chemistry, polygraph, firearms and tool masks, latent fingerprints; pathology, questioned documents and explosives lab.

The IGP said that the Sindh police had already established forensic facilities in Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana.

In these labs firearms unit, questioned documents unit, fingerprints unit; vehicle examination unit, digital forensic unit, specialised crime scene units and one mobile forensic unit were already operational.

At present, DNA serology facility in Sindh was available at the Liaquat University Jamshoro, which had analysed 1,000 cases during the past four years.

It was also pointed out in the meeting that another 30 acres of land was required for setting up a forensic academy and another 30 acres for a hostel and residential colony.

Rotation system for water distribution

Presiding over another meeting to review rain emergency preparations and an equitable water distribution system, the CM directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to launch a rotation system for water distribution in the city and inform the public through its website.

Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani briefed the meeting that there was 406 MGD net supply of water in the city against a requirement of 918 MGD.

The chief minister said there was almost a 50 per cent shortage and “a rotation system as is planned by the irrigation department during water shortages may also be replicated by the KWSB in the city”, he said, adding that “presently some areas are getting water regularly while the others were waiting for weeks. This is injustice and unfair practice.”

Mr Shah said that he had reports that the valve-men had established their parallel sway in the water distribution system.

“The valve-men involved in favouritism must be identified and criminal cases may also be initiated against them,” he said.

He also directed the KWSB chief to launch an operation against illegal water connections and theft.

The chief minister also urged the LG minister to engage KWSB engineers for proper maintenance and upgrade of the water distribution system so that 30pc line losses/theft could be controlled, which would be able to save 174 MGD.

Rain emergency measures

The chief minister said that the Met office had issued a forecast of heavy rains from July 29 in the city. “Therefore, necessary arrangements which include cleanliness of storm-water drains, proper maintenance of sewerage system and repair of depressions on road must be made,” he said.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation was also asked to devise a plan regarding length of the drains, portions under encroachment, choking points, the points from where filth and garbage was dumped or dropped for cleaning so that necessary funds could be released.

KWSB chief Asadullah Khan gave the chief minister a detailed briefing about preparedness for the expected heavy rains.

The LG minister said that he had convened a meeting of all local bodies of the city in which a comprehensive plan would be worked out to handle downpour efficiently.

He said that he was in touch with other civic agencies operating in the city so that a joint working plan could be made.

The chief minister urged the KWSB to start patrolling on bulk transmission system, canals, siphons, conduits and other installations located in the areas of Dhabeji, Gharo, Pipri and NEK pumping stations and filter plants.

In case of power failure at the pumping station, a complaint must be lodged with the K-Electric immediately so that water and pumping stations could function smoothly, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2019