Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved the Rs1.6 billion Sindh Toll Plaza Surveillance Project to enhance security at the province's entry points through installation of CCTV cameras at 40 toll plazas.
The approval was given at a meeting with the chief minister in the chair at the CM House on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Home Secretary Saeed Mangnijo, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, AIG (Investigation) Munir Shaikh, Finance Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, and others.
The CM said that there was a dire need to enhance security at the province's entry points. The province has 40 toll plazas where high-definition CCTV cameras should be installed to ensure proper monitoring.
IG Memon informed the CM that the Police Department has prepared a Rs1.56 billion Sindh Toll Plaza Surveillance Project. The CCTV cameras would have full-frame (FR) and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) capabilities with centralised monitoring and alert system for blacklisted vehicles and criminals.
After thorough discussion, the chief minister approved the scheme and directed the police chief to launch the project at the earliest.
Investigation allowance
The meeting also discussed grant of an allowance for investigators. The plan is to incentivise the investigators so that they make proper investigations of the cases and win them in the court of law. The CM said, "I want to give an investigation allowance to police investigators."
At this, Home Secretary Saeed Mangnijo said that the scheme has already been prepared and sent to the Finance Department. Shah directed the finance secretary to send him the scheme for approval.
Procurement of equipment
The provincial police chief said that with the approval of the chief minister, a 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 dacoits in the riverine area.
Outlaws in the riverine area of Sukkur and Larkana divisions have become a standing threat to the peace in the province and they operate within the kutcha 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.
RRF & Crowd Management
Another matter that came under discussion was the expansion of the Rapid Response Force (RRF) and the establishment of the Crowd Management Unit.
The IG Police informed 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 re-designation of the posts so that necessary transfers and postings for the expansion of RRF and operationalisation of the Crowd Management Unit could be made.
Repair of police quarters
The IG also informed the chief minister that 8,000 residential quarters of Sindh Police have been damaged by the recent heavy rains and floods. Various training barracks have also been badly affected, he added. The CM approved Rs4 billion for the repairs and renovation of the residential quarters and Rs2 billion for repairing the training barracks.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2023.
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