KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced that the provincial government has taken foolproof security arrangements for peaceful observance of 8th, 9th and 10th Muharram across the province.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said that a total of 49,662 police personnel will be deployed across Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad from 8th Muharram till Ashura to prevent any untoward incidents.

He said that 14,546 police personnel would be deployed for security of majalis, while 35,116 to protect Muharram processions. He said that over 14,000 additional personnel had been assigned to ensure security of all events.

He said that recently Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah held meetings with scholars belonging to different schools of thought and reviewed the security plan for majalis and processions during the mourning period.

Defends curbs on rickshaws

Mr Memon, who holds the portfolios of information, transport and mass transit said that the Karachi commissioner had issued a notification on April 15, imposing a ban on the movement of rickshaws on 11 major roads in the metropolis.

He clarified that the ban did not apply to all of Karachi but was limited to specific main roads.

This measure has been implemented under the Sindh Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1965 and it is the administrative authority of the government to regulate traffic and ensure convenience for citizens, he added.

Sharjeel says 50,000 police being deployed in Sindh from today

He questioned as to whether rickshaws operate on major roads in any other part of the country.

Speaking about the education sector, Mr Memon said that the Sindh government had recruited 93,118 teachers across the province, including 31,075 women.

He said that 2,100 teachers were appointed under the minority quota, while 1,330 positions were given to differently abled persons.

He said that the recruitment process carried out through the Sukkur IBA test with complete transparency, leaving no room for criticism.

As a result of these measures, 5,000 previously closed schools had been reopened.

Currently, 5.5 million children are enrolled in government schools across Sindh, four million in private schools, and one million in Sindh Education Foundation schools, he said.

The minister stated that the Sindh government had taken revolutionary steps in health, energy, infrastructure and climate change.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025