KARACHI: The maiden meeting of the caretaker cabinet of Sindh on Monday decided to take immediate measures to curb the menace of street crime in the metropolis and rein in dacoit gangs in riverine areas.

Caretaker Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Baqar held an introductory meeting with his cabinet members and asked them to try to improve security and governance in the province.

Official sources said that the introductory meeting of the cabinet was aimed at setting an agenda for good governance, service to the people, and support to the Election Commission of Pakistan in holding the next general elections.

Talking to Dawn, interim Home Minister retired Brigadier Haris Nawaz said that the cabinet discussed at length the law and order situation in the province and decided to launch massive actions against street criminals in Karachi and dacoits in riverine areas on a priority basis.

People will see a difference in two-three weeks, claims interim home minister

“People will see the difference in the next two to three weeks,” he added.

The home minister said that effective action would be taken to curb the menace of drugs and narcotics in educational institutions, including schools and colleges, in the city.

“Besides, strict measures will be taken against illegal hydrants operating in Karachi,” he said, adding that the cabinet discussed policy guidelines.

The caretaker home minister told Dawn that he had pointed out in the meeting that the dacoits had developed a sway in the katcha area.

He said the caretaker CM had directed him to chalk out a plan in consultation with police and other law enforcement agencies so that a well-coordinated clean-up operation against the dacoits could be launched.

Meanwhile, caretaker CM Baqar told his cabinet members that in the aftermath of the floods, poverty had increased manifold in the province and there was a dire need to take concrete measures to alleviate poverty.

He said the caretaker government was apolitical and for everyone, irrespective of their socio-political identification or affiliation.

“We are not here to raise fingers of accusation against others, but we will try to improve the governance to serve the people and support the ECP in its assignment,” he said.

Justice Baqar said there was a need of promoting inter-faith harmony in the province. “But anti-state elements are trying to create law and order situation by igniting religious hatred, and we must stop it,” he added.

It was also pointed out in the meeting that due to some ongoing development works in the city traffic jam issues cropped up during the peak hours; therefore, the traffic police were directed to manage the traffic flow properly.

The meeting, after a thorough discussion, decided to expedite work on the ongoing development schemes and to accelerate work on the foreign-funded projects so that they could be completed well in time.

The chief minister also directed all the ministers, particularly of the revenue, local government, police, and health to direct their respective departments to make their offices functional and public-oriented everywhere.

The health minister was directed to take necessary measures to make the province free from the crippling disease of polio.

The chief minister directed all the caretaker ministers to prepare presentations of their respective departments for him so that decisions could be taken for public interest accordingly.

The meeting was attended by caretaker ministers Haris Nawaz, Younus Dagha, Mubeen Jumani, Dr Saad Khalid, Dr Junaid Shah, Rana Hussain, Ishwar Lal, Arshad Wali Muhammad, Omar Soomro, Khuda Bux Marri, newly appointed Chief Secretary Dr Fakhr-i-Alam, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh and others.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2023