CM okays Rs1.6bn project to boost security at entry points to province

Murad Ali Shah wants police to purchase equipment and launch operation in katcha area along with Punjab and Balochistan police

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday approved a Rs1.6 billion surveillance project for the installation of CCTV cameras at 40 toll plazas to boost security at entry points to the province.

The decision to this effect was made during a meeting chaired by the CM at his office.

The meeting was attended by IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Home Secretary Saeed Mangnijo, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, Additional IG (Investigation) Munir Ahmed Shaikh, Secretary Finance Sajid Jamal Abro, and other concerned officers.

Sindh Chief Minister said that there was a dire need to enhance security at the entry points to the province. He added that the province had 40 Toll Plazas where high-definition CCTV cameras should be installed to ensure proper monitoring.

IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon informed the CM that his department had prepared a Rs1.56 billion Sindh Toll Plaza Surveillance Project. He added that the CCTV Cameras would have Full-frame (FR) and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) capabilities with centralized monitoring and alert system for blacklisted vehicles and criminals.

The CM after discussion approved the scheme and directed the IG police to launch the project at the earliest.

The meeting also discussed granting Investigation Allowance to Investigators. The CM said that the plan was to incentivize the investigators so that they make proper investigations of the cases and win them in the court of law. “I want to give an investigation allowance to the investigators, he said. At this, Home Secretary, Saeed Mangnijo said that the scheme was prepared and sent to the Finance department. The chief minister directed Secretary Finance to dispose of the scheme and send him for approval.

IG Police said that with the approval of the chief minister, Rs2.7 billion scheme for the purchase of sophisticated field weapons and surveillance equipment was prepared and sent to the finance department through the Home department. At this, the CM said that he has approved the scheme and wanted the police to eradicate the menace of dacoits in the Katcha area.

This dacoit factor in the katcha area of the Sukkur and Larkana divisions has become a standing threat to the peace in the province and they operate within the katcha areas of three provinces- Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan.  “I want the police to purchase the necessary equipment and launch a joint operation with the police of Punjab and Balochistan to bring an end to the outlaws once and for all,” he said.

Another matter that came under discussion in the meeting was the expansion of the Rapid Response Force (RRF) and the establishment of the Crowd Management Unit. IG Police told the chief minister that work on the expansion of RRF and the establishment of the Crowd Management Unit was in progress. He added that some posts of the police officers were required to be re-designated which have been sent to the finance department for approval.

The chief minister directed the finance department to speed up the re-designation of the posts so that necessary transfers/postings for the expansion of RRF and operationalization of the Crowd Management Unit could be made.

Repair of Police quarters: The IG police told the chief minister that 8,000 residential quarters of Sindh police have been damaged by the recent heavy rains and floods. He also added that various training barracks have also been affected badly. The chief minister approved Rs4 billion for repairing and renovating the residential quarters and Rs2 billion for repairing training barracks.