KARACHI: As part of a continuing effort by the government of the United States, equipment worth $750,000 (approximately Rs67 million) was handed over to the Sindh police on Wednesday.
“We are committed to help better equip the brave police officers who have to face extraordinary challenges in Karachi and Sindh,” said US Consul General William Martin at the Central Police Office. “And we hope to make this relationship last for a very long time.”
The equipment handed over, in what the Sindh police call the second major installment from the US government, includes a thousand bullet-proof vests and helmets along with other equipment critical to riot-control policing. The equipment was donated directly from the offices of Brian Nichols, the principal deputy secretary of state for narcotics and international law enforcement. Nichols was recognised as the man who has made this partnership possible.
Present at the ceremony was Sindh Inspector General Mushtaq Ahmed Shah. “The Sindh police is trying to modernise itself to bring its force up to global standards as it faces terrorism at the very forefront,” he said.
In November last year, the US handed over equipment worth eight million dollars. They included voice-stress analysers, bomb-detecting equipment, night-vision goggles, handcuffs, batons, binoculars, megaphones and vehicles.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Sindh police and the US government under the Police Assistance Programme that is worth $1.5 million.
“We want to help better the environment in the dangerous mission the police have,” Martin said. “If peace and stability can be achieved in Karachi, it will open up economic and commercial [avenues] and help attract foreign investment.”
In addition to the equipment, the US provides additional support to rehabilitate infrastructure, enhance police capabilities and train the officers in the province in areas such as counter-terrorism.
The police force in Karachi is currently estimated to be just under 30,000 men and it is further weakened by outdated equipment and long work hours.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Vin: You like that. ha!
Did US also donate their Hagan Mootan Chairs? I mean PWC I mean Commodes? :)..
@US CENTCOM: Major Nevers, The problem is that The good deeds of United states never gets publicity. I do not know that if it is the fault of US embassy or the local media. USA should launch a vigourous campaign to let common man know when and in what ways it has helped Pakistani nation. for example no body knows that the American government gives tax exemption {30 to 40%] on all donations/ money sent by pakistani Americans or any one as charity through registered programs 501-C3.
This gift to Pakistan may win the hearts of some but just think if a partner ship with USA Can foster a road to our young women & men to study abroad maybe get employment to better their lives and their families. There is a huge demand for educated women & men from Pakistan But the road block is the anti American hysteria fueled by media, Military to install seeds of fear the religious faction also have a huge interest to keep the citizens uneducated by feeding them proporganda that serves the interest of mullahs as educated population threatens their hold of power we Paks have to decide a better future for ALL or more of the same.
Since Pakistan’s independence, the United States has supported Pakistan in various ways so that Pakistan is able to become a strong member of the world community, and we continue to do the same even today. The U.S. Consul General in Karachi said, “We are committed to help better equip the brave police officers who have to face extraordinary challenges in Karachi and Sindh and we hope to make this relationship last for a very long time.”
Karachi is one of the world’s major metropolises, a status that comes with great challenges. These challenges are exacerbated by the lack of equipment available for the police. Our little help will go a long way in helping the police secure Karachi. This is not the first time we have supported institutions in Pakistan, neither is it the last. The United States through USAID has been supporting programs in education, health, electric power and agriculture all over Pakistan. Visit: http://www.usaid.gov/pk/ to learn more.
To conspiracy theorists, I would only say that the spreading of misinformation does not help anyone. The truth remains that the United States and Pakistan are working hard to improve their relationship. We will continue our efforts for a strong and prosperous Pakistan. Is that not in everyone’s interest?
Maj David Nevers DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
@derpton: Ya! Find something Negative in everything that happens in the Land! If not then blame it on some foreign power that has nothing else to do but always planning to break our leg. It's Us who are Against Us, look around yourself daily, first. It's because of people like you the country is a "stand stil"l. Tell us what positive step have you taken lately for the country? No mater what, atleast the donating Agency is not affiliated with NATO and they provide such gear so put the country On-Track for Progress and so "Beg and then steal" less from them, or send less Drugs Overseas, Kill less foreign Engineers that come for buiding Better Future for Pakistan. Or catch more innocent Public killers for cellphones, cars, kidnapping for ransom.....Without getting killed by them first.
Thank you United states. We appriciate your help. I wish that it can be publicised more so that people can know how USA is helping us in diifernt ways.
Fellow Critics! Where are our brothers who you worried about to save from this protective gear?
You know, they are planing yet another suicide attack to kill innocents Pakis or better yet a Kidnapping Plan to pay for such expenses. None or our "brothers" have come frorward from any corner of the world to protect these "low paid" front-line policemen. As a matter of fact: These "brothers" are behind the supply of all this extra AK-47 on the street killing hundreds without regard.
Must supply to the target killers
haha yeah right!! its only because the nato and isaf trade supplies get affected if Karachi's peace is disturbed :D
Yet another proof that Pakistan lives on donation.
Awesome. I hope the next shipment (since we don't seem to be motivated enough to bother procuring them ourselves!) has equipment for the bomb disposal squad. Those guys risk their lives diffusing random packages with rudimentary equipment and no protective gear! Thank you!
no need for it police will remain the same
Instead of criticizing and embroiling in conspiracy theories, which we are fashionably good at. We should start taking things at face value. If America has given us aid in the form of goods like bullet proof vests and other equipment i am all for it. Instead of giving money which gets siphoned off into bank accounts, this is a welcome change. Anything done for the betterment of Pakistan should be appreciated, or as always we can go in the cynical way of thinking as its a conspiracy against the Islamic Ummah. By the way where is the Islamic brotherhood in this dire time of need?
The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA zindabad.
"...critical to riot control policing...." Not so! Actually It's not given to handle "public riots".
These bullet proof vest and helmets are donated by U.S. narcotic control office and are needed to match the armor & equipment of world class terrorist & drug traffickars coming down & hiding in karachi from other areas. We see poorly equiped local policemen get killed daily in such encounters. We need a shipload more of such gear for 30,000 strong sindh police force.
An eloquent way to sneak weapons into the hands of political rivals, so the violence can continue!