Fresh perspective: To solve age-old problems, govt gets to work on new policies

Cameras and scanners to be installed at all entry and exit points of the city .

KARACHI: In a bid to foil the smuggling of arms and explosives and curb violence in Karachi, the government and law enforcement agencies are currently engaged in making new policies, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.

The first meeting was held at the Central Police Office during Sindh Chief Secretary Aijaz Chaudhry’s visit to the Central Command and Control of the Police. Officials told The Express Tribune that a series of meetings have been scheduled with different departments, including home department, Customs and Excise, and the Rangers to make the new policies and ensure their implementation.

In the first major step, the government and LEAs are planning to install scanners and sensitive surveillance cameras at all the entry and exit points of the city, including Super Highway, National Highway and Hub.



Police officials said that the sensitive surveillance cameras can even check suspicious movements, adding that they were also considering installing the scanning and surveillance equipment at all the railway stations. They said that the scanners were being installed especially after the disappearance of 19,000 containers from the port city. “It will take time because the cost amounts to billions of rupees,” said DIG Captain (retd) Tahir Naveed while talking to The Express Tribune. “Now our direction is clear - we have to work day and night to avoid smugglings of any kind in the city and to restore the peace.”

Arms licence policy

The government and law enforcement agencies are also trying to review the arms licence policy and come up with a new one. Under the new arms policy, all the licences would be computerised and verified with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and later, be interlinked with other provinces. The person buying the weapon will also be asked to submit the empty shells of the bullets fired from his gun for the police’s record.

“Those licences which are not verified by NADRA will be declared illegal,” said Matin Khan, NADRA manager who is looking after the project. More than four licences will not be issued to anyone and valid reasons for applying for the arms licence will need to be stated. “Our role is to facilitate the government and LEAs,” he explained. “We are also developing softwares for the verification.”

Biometric system

The biometric system is also being installed at the police headquartres and other units to ensure the presence of policemen. The biometric system will be installed at the police headquarters, police stations, offices of the Sindh Reserve Police and other special units, including Crime Investigation Department and Special Investigation Unit.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2013.