SITE businessmen press for greater police presence

Association says industrialists feel highly insecure in the area.

KARACHI:

A few days after the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a call to arms to businessmen of the city against criminal elements, industrialists from the Sindh Industrial and Trading Estate (SITE) Association have asked the Sindh police to immediately improve security in the SITE area, which is one of the biggest industrial estates in Karachi.

The demand came on Saturday in a meeting between representatives of the association and Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi, Iqbal Mehmood at the SITE Association office.

Chairman SITE Association Muhammad Irfan Moton said that industrialists in Karachi, especially in the SITE area, felt highly insecure. He said this is something which not only discourages future investments, but also compels investors to flee from the city.

He complained that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had assured the business community that law and order in the area would improve after the posting of 500 police officials and provision of more mobile vans and motorbikes, but no tangible progress has been in the area.

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President Younus M Bashir suggested reviving the police’s intelligence network, which he said would be helpful in tracing criminals and the elements that back them.

The hijacking of loaded vehicles full of industrial materials was also pointed out. Businessmen suggested that patrolling by night of equipped police mobiles be increased for effective control of crimes in the area.

Mehmood has issued directions to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Karachi West, to start working on a plan to increase police presence at 27 identified pickets and 3 check posts. He said the SITE area will be divided into three zones, and a police force under supervision of a Sub Inspector will be immediately posted, who will report to concerned Station House Officers.

He also issued directions to the DIG, Karachi West, for immediate arrangement of police patrolling and snap checking at major roads.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2012.