To fix law and order: Sindh govt seeks Rs3.7b from the federal govt

The govt writes letter asking for the first installment to buy APC, weapons and jammers.

KARACHI: Sindh government has once again approached the federal government seeking Rs 3.75 billion financial assistance to buy Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), bulletproof vehicles, jackets, helmets, sophisticated weapons, jammers, alarming gadgets and close circuit cameras etc.

A letter by the provincial home department said, “The prime minister had promised to give Rs10 billion for Karachi police, but we are still waiting for the amount. We will appreciate if the first installment of the amount Rs3.75 billion is released without delay.”

The letter further said that Sindh government was giving top priority to law and order so the current annual expenditure had raised from Rs15 billion to Rs60 billion. Therefore, the promised amount must be released to strengthen the police, it said.

Earlier, presiding over a law and order meeting, the chief minister said that the government was providing compensation to the heirs of martyred Sindh police and Rangers by giving Rs2 million and a job to each heir in all cases. The Rangers martyrs will be given a plot as well. Referring to his meeting with the prime minister a few days ago, the CM said the prime minister had given them a green signal to expend the operation till complete peace is restored in Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2014.