KARACHI: The Inspector General of Sindh Police, A.D. Khowaja, said on Monday that talks with different companies and consultants were under way to install 10,000 cameras in Karachi under the safe city project and expressed the hope that work on the project would start soon.

Speaking at a ceremony held to hand over 45 Toyota pick-ups among the investigation wing of police at the police headquarters in Garden and talking to journalists after the ceremony, the Sindh IG said that all possible efforts were being made to enhance the capacity of the police force.

He said that a forensic lab would be set up in October this year and its network would be expanded to other areas of the province.

The Sindh police chief said that all possible efforts were being made to initiate investigation on scientific lines as modern scientific equipment would not only strengthen the investigation process, but these would help arrest culprits immediately.

The IG said that the investigation branch of police was the backbone of the department and a sound investigation was a guarantor of peace in society. He said the successful conviction of accused not only enhanced performance of police but also strengthened the confidence of people on police.

Mr Khowaja said that as part of enhancing the capacity of police, more weapons such as SMGs and pistols were being purchased from Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah.

The IG said that Karachi was a megacity and under such a situation, carrying pistol was more advisable than SMGs. He said that around 12,000 pistols would be procured while in the past police had only 3,000 pistols.

He said that at least 10,000 bulletproof jackets would also be purchased as at present the police had only 18,000 such jackets.

The Sindh police chief said that it was the responsibility of SHOs and DSPs concerned to ensure implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent attacks on police.

He said that each police station would be provided one mobile van totalling 108 such police vehicles.

When asked by journalists to comment on his ‘tussle’ with the provincial government and his powers being curtailed by the government, he avoided the matter and said that he was only trying to play his role to curb crimes and improve security in the city.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2017