Mirza approves policing system reforms

Volunteer organisation to improve police stations’ infrastructure.

KARACHI:

Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has approved reforms in the policing system under a public-private partnership. He directed the consultant on home affairs, Sharfuddin Memon, to meet the CCPO Karachi and the volunteering NGO at the earliest.

According to a press release issued by the home department on Monday, Mirza observed that a public-private venture will be in line with the concept of community policing. Memon told the home minister that the Darakhshan police station in Clifton has been chosen to initiate the partnership in the first phase.

This initiative would focus on a two-point agenda including improved traffic and removal of beggars from the streets.

Memon said that a memorandum of understanding would be signed between police and the Police Reforms Initiative (PRI) to carry out the project. A managing committee comprising PRI members, police officials and members of the civil society would be headed by the CCPO Karachi and would be responsible for the implementation of this programme.

The PRI is providing volunteer services to improve the infrastructure of police stations, fuel for police mobiles and construction of a cafeteria where meals can be bought at 30 per cent of the actual cost of food. It would also provide a 40-KVA stand-by generator, said Memon.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2011.