• General
  • Trading
  • Science & Technology
  • Fashion
  • Health & Safety
  • Games
  • Key Issues
  • Legal & Judicial
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit News
  • Sitemap
Nepal News Gazette
Menu
  • General
  • Trading
  • Science & Technology
  • Fashion
  • Health & Safety
  • Games
  • Key Issues
  • Legal & Judicial
 › Trading › Pakistan’s Sindh Province Increases Security Budget to Combat Crime, Extremism

Pakistan’s Sindh Province Increases Security Budget to Combat Crime, Extremism

nepalnewsgazette.com June 8, 2017     Comment Closed     Trading

Pakistan has a plan to curb extremism and violence in a key terror-wracked province: add 10,000 police officers, flood the region with security cameras, and enhance protection of a major economic project with China.

But analysts and activists question whether boosting security spending in Pakistan's Sindh province by 10 percent in the new fiscal year will significantly deter terrorism and crime, particularly in Karachi, a city of 27 million people.

"We don't just need a plan but execution of the plan," said Jameel Yusuf, a citizen crime fighter and founder of Citizens Police Liaison Committee, a self-funded nonpolitical organization which gathers data on crime and extremism-related activities in Karachi. "We need huge changes in the current law-and-order system. We need massive funding, mapping, modern investigative and management tools and an up-to-date intelligence network to counter crime and extremism in Karachi."

Sprawling Karachi has several pockets which serve as territories to organized criminal gangs and armed political parties where police hesitate to enter. The city is also home to various terror and militant groups.

"In these trying times. Law and order remains at the forefront of our efforts to create a nation that is safe for all its citizens regardless of caste, creed and religious affiliation," Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said in his recent budget speech, as quoted by the Dawn newspaper. "Strengthening our law enforcement agencies through training and equipment is at the forefront of our fight against terrorism."

In addition to adding police to ease the world's worst police-to-population ratio in Karachi, the provincial government plans to install security cameras in major cities and create 3,000 security posts to protect parts of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a multi-million-dollar project designed to create jobs and facilitate trade.

Past attacks

Karachi has been a victim of several terrorist attacks in recent years.

In June 2014, 36 people died when Karachi's International airport was stormed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants. In May 2015, gunmen sprayed bullets on a bus carrying Ismaili Shia Muslims, a minority sect, killing 46; Islamic State claimed responsibility. Security agencies recently arrested five Islamic State operatives who they say were planning to carry out terrorist attacks there.

Pakistani media say there's been a significant decrease in terrorism-related activities in the city over the past two years, but analysts fear more attacks are possible if security isn't bolstered. Security experts say Karachi has the worst police-to-citizen ratio in the world: one police officer for every 950 residents, when it ideally should be one for every 275 people.

"Karachi needs more police presence. It is a demographic pressure cooker," Huma Baqai, a political analyst, told VOA.

According to the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, some 60,000 citizens were mugged in 2016.

Adnan Abro, a resident of Lyari, one of the oldest and most densely populated areas of Karachi, says her perception is that crime is increasing.

"They [gangsters] come and kill us or snatch our belongings in broad daylight, and there's no one to stop this or to protect us," Abro said.

Allocation of resources

Sindh, Pakistan's third-largest province, has allocated nearly $893 million to strengthen its security agencies in fiscal year 2017-18, which includes adding 10,000 posts of different ranks to the provincial police force.

The total also includes nearly $19 million to equip law enforcement agencies with hi-tech security equipment, $1.9 million to install security cameras, $25 million to build a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory, and $2.69 million to build an intelligence school and data center to help police solve complex crimes.

Ahmed Khan, a longtime resident, is hopeful that increased security will help to fight lawlessness.

"The raise in security budget is laudable and will help Karachi to overcome street crime, which has swarmed the city for decades now," Khan said. "People lose their lives for a mere mobile phone. We can only hope the government will make sure to keep up their promises."

Analysts say the anti-terror proposals are "highly optimistic," but warn that the government should take many other factors into consideration as well.

"Smart political footwork, vigilance and accountability is needed at the topmost level to resolve government," analyst Baqai said.

Source: Voice of America

Trading

 Previous Post

Pentagon: China Will Seek More Global Military Bases in Future

― June 7, 2017

Next Post 

Thousands Gather In Tehran To Mourn Victims Of Attacks

― June 9, 2017

Author: nepalnewsgazette.com

Related Articles

nepalnewsgazette.com ― January 18, 2021 | Comment Closed

Sugarcane farmers to stage another round of protest if not paid on time

Sugarcane farmers from across the country gathered in Kathmandu last month and staged protests against the delayed payment of outstanding dues from different sugar mills, and returned after they were promised full pay by the government. However, they a...

nepalnewsgazette.com ― January 18, 2021 | Comment Closed

NOC decides to halt fuel import from Raxaul depot

nepalnewsgazette.com ― January 17, 2021 | Comment Closed

Price of yellow metal goes down

nepalnewsgazette.com ― January 15, 2021 | Comment Closed

HIDCL makes investment loans of Rs 10.8 billion in 13 hydropower projects

nepalnewsgazette.com ― January 15, 2021 | Comment Closed

HIDCL makes investment loans of Rs 10.8 billion in 13 hydropower projects

nepalnewsgazette.com ― January 14, 2021 | Comment Closed

Three homestays to receive grant of Rs 2.4 million

nepalnewsgazette.com ― January 11, 2021 | Comment Closed

Govt ready to resolve cooperatives’ problems: Finance Minister

nepalnewsgazette.com ― January 11, 2021 | Comment Closed

Private sector cautious about FDI in agriculture sector

Advertisement

Search News

Categories

Monthly Archive

Calendar

January 2021
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Dec    

Key Issues

NC meeting on Jan 26

― January 18, 2021

HoR dissolution adds challenges on political achievements: chair Nepal

― January 18, 2021

Fresh mandate a must for peace, stability and development: Prez Bhandari

― January 18, 2021

PM did not face obstruction in HoR: Hearing to continue Tuesday

― January 18, 2021

Human Rights

Seven involved in timber smuggling busted

― January 18, 2021

An adolescent girl dies of HIV infection

― January 18, 2021

EC consults political parties on upcoming election

― January 17, 2021

Hearing on writs against HoR dissolution to take place in constitutional bench

― January 15, 2021

Government committed to save citizen’s life: Minister Shrestha

― January 15, 2021

Advertisement

As this website is one of the renowned online
news websites of the country, it has the status to determine the path to follow for both local and regional news industries.

Follow Us


Browse By Pages

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit News
  • Sitemap

Categories

  • General
  • Trading
  • Science & Technology
  • Fashion
  • Health & Safety
  • Games
  • Key Issues
  • Legal & Judicial
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit News
  • Sitemap
© Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved. Nepal News Gazette