KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has made it clear that the government will not tolerate incidents of kidnapping for ransom in the katcha (riverine) area anymore, as his objective is to make the security situation in the upper Sindh belt ‘ideal’.

He said this while chairing a meeting at the CM House on Monday to review the law and order situation in the riverine areas of Sukkur and Larkana divisions.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Principal Secretary Agha Wasif and DIG Larkana.

The chief minister said he wanted the law and order situation in the katcha areas of Sukkur and Larkana divisions to be perfect, and directed the police to remain vigilant.

“I want you to be ruthless against the dacoits and their facilitators so that no case of kidnapping for ransom takes place,” he told the officials at the meeting.

Briefing the CM, Home Minister Lanjar and IG Memon said that large-scale operations had been carried out in Ghotki and Shikarpur. They said that around 500 hideouts of dacoits and their facilitators were destroyed. Between January 2024 and 2025, a total of 115 dacoits were killed, 208 injured and 582 arrested. Eight of the most-wanted outlaws were also eliminated.

CM Shah directed the home minister to ensure that dacoits’ weapons supply line was cut off. “How sensitive weapons reach the dacoits in the katcha areas is a matter that still needs to be investigated,” he observed.

He instructed the IG to ensure that criminal gangs were rooted out completely. “We have already controlled abductions and dismantled many hideouts. Now, we will eliminate dacoits,” he said.

600-bed hospital for Larkana

At another meeting, the chief minister was briefed about a 16-acre hospital site in Larkana city.

Chairing the meeting, the CM gave approval for the construction of two towers at the hospital.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, MPA Jameel Soomro, CS Asif Hyder Shah and others.

“The bed capacity at the Larkana hospital will be increased to 600. The old hospital in the city centre will be rebuilt on modern lines, ensuring that all facilities are available at one place,” the CM said.

“Emergency, gynaecology, cardiology, paediatrics, surgical and other facilities will be available under one roof,” he added.

He directed the chief secretary to promptly hire a consultant.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2025