CM okays Rs1b medical cover for cops

Meeting reviews street crime control, repatriation of illegal immigrants

KARACHI:

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd.) Maqbool Baqar, in a meeting, approved a medical insurance policy worth over Rs1 billion for all policemen.

The meeting was held to review the progress of decisions made during the Special Apex Committee meeting held on October 6 at CM House. It was attended by several officials, including Minister Home Brig Haris Nawaz, Minister Law Omar Soomro, and other key figures.

One of the key points discussed was the issue of illegal foreigners. Home Secretary Iqbal Memon informed the chief minister about the status of implementing decisions related to the 'Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.' Special Branch (SB) was designated as the lead agency for implementing the plan, identifying illegal foreigners and areas of concern in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies (LEAs). Divisional and District Implementation Committees were established to collect data and share it with the Home Department. They would assess the identified areas and conduct combing operations if necessary.

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The meeting also emphasised obtaining data on non-Pakistanis recorded in the 2023 census for mapping legal and illegal immigrants. PoR and ACC holders were required to register themselves at the nearest police stations, and failure to do so would be considered illegal.

Regarding police stations, Inspector General of Police Riffat Mukhtar reported that out of 621 police stations in the province, 66 were in good condition, 315 were normal, and 240 were in bad condition. The CM emphasised the need for standard construction and fortification of police stations, including strong walls and watchtowers. He approved a medical insurance policy for all policemen, costing over Rs1 billion annually.

Additional IG Karachi Khadim Rind provided an update on street crime control efforts, including encounters with criminals, arrests, and recovery of illegal weapons. Proactive policing, combing operations in slum areas, and surveillance against repeat offenders and narcotic peddlers were in progress.

AIG also noted the challenge of mobile phone snatching and the need to crack down on criminals who unlock stolen phones with custom software. The CM directed police stations, DIGs, and SSPs to strengthen inspection processes and ensure the presence of personnel, equipment, transport facilities, and wireless system maintenance.

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Expressing concern about the kidnapping of a SHO and five policemen in Shikarpur, the CM ordered a recovery operation within 48 hours and a thorough inquiry into the incident.

Additionally, Chief Secretary Dr. Fakhre Alam communicated the Sindh government's decision to the Ministry of Industries & Production regarding the installation of trackers in motorcycles and motorcars, with the aim of making it mandatory for automotive companies to include in-built trackers in these vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2023.