Karachi operation to succeed at all costs: PM

Nawaz inaugurates K-2 project of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that Karachi’s law and order situation has significantly improved since the Karachi operation was initiated two years ago.

“After two years, there has been marked improvement in the law and order situation,” the premier claimed, while addressing a press conference at the Sindh Governor’s House after chairing the National Apex Committee meeting.

“Targeted killings, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes have reduced to a great extent,” he added.

Further, the prime minister vowed to make the Karachi operation successful at all costs, offering any kind of assistance for eliminating terrorism out of the city.

Read: Karachi operation ‘to go on come what may’

“I am ready to provide any kind of assistance to the targeted operation being carried out in Karachi as I want it to succeed at all costs,” the premier announced.

PM Nawaz lauded the efforts of Rangers, police, intelligence agencies and the political administration in bringing peace back to the city.

“Efforts of Sindh governor, Sindh chief minister, and security agencies should be lauded,” he said.

“We have spent two years to bring back peace to Karachi, however, it will take some more time to completely restore peace in the city,” he added.

Furthermore, the prime minister claimed that the terrorists’ capability to carry out attacks has ended; however, they are trying hard to keep their existence in the city by carrying out a few attacks.

“The Karachi operation is not against any political party,” Nawaz clarified, adding that all the political parties were present at the time when Karachi operation was being decided.

Earlier, the prime minister chaired the high-level National Apex Committee meeting at the Governor’s House to review the Karachi’s law and order situation.

Director General Sindh Rangers Major-General Bilal Akbar and Sindh chief secretary briefed the participants of the meeting on the overall security situation of the metropolitan city.

Read: PM’s nod: Karachi operation to be accelerated after Eid

“Karachi witnessed trade activities up to Rs70 billion on Eid and Rs5 billion on the independence day,” DG Rangers told PM Nawaz, claiming that the rise in trade activities is due to increasing peace and stability.

Meanwhile, intelligence officials presented the initial inquiry report into the terrorist attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MNA Rashid Godil.

The premier showed his displeasure over malfunctioning of CCTV cameras in Karachi, adding that those involved in the installation of substandard cameras should be punished.

Further, PM Nawaz directed the Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to improve the level of prosecution in the province.

“The Sindh government has given away cash awards over good performance of intelligence agencies,” CM Sindh told the prime minister during the meeting.

“We have given away Rs50 million to those who helped security agencies arrest wanted criminals,” he added.

The prime minister directed Sindh government officials to focus on the de-weaponisation of the province. “All provinces should be de-weaponised.”

Read: MQM MNA Rashid Godil fights for life after gun attack

Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Sial, Corps Commander Karachi Lt-General Naveed Mukhtar, Sindh Chief Secretary, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali and officials of police and intelligence agencies were present during the meeting.

PM inaugurates K-2 power plant at KANUPP

Earlier upon his arrival in in the metropolis on a one-day visit, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the K-2 project of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP).

"Today is a big day in the history of Pakistan," the premier said, while addressing the inauguration ceremony.

"The nuclear power project is vital for national progress," he added.

The government in 2013 decided to go ahead with work on a 1,100-megawatt nuclear power plant in Karachi with Chinese assistance from the next financial year in an effort to ease energy shortages in the country.

Read: Govt to kick off work on 1,100MW nuclear power plant

According to sources, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) will build the power plant named Karachi Coastal Power and costing an estimated $9.5 billion.

While stating that these power plants will further strengthen ties between Pakistan and China, PM Nawaz also said that this major step and cooperation from China will help Pakistan's government tackle the  problem of load-shedding in the country.

"Today Pakistan's economy has reached a point of transparency, thus enabling other investors across the globe to rest their trust in future projects."

Further, PM Nawaz expressed gratitude by thanking the atomic energy authority of China, economic corporation of China, as well as the Chinese government for cooperating with Pakistan in the construction of these power plants.

Addressing the issue of terrorism in the country, PM Nawaz said "along with eliminating the problem of load shedding from Pakistan, the country is also fighting terrorism and removing all terrorist activities from its soil remains the top priority of the government."

"The ongoing operation of Zarb-e-Azb and the National Action Plan will continue despite the unfortunate death of Shuja Khanzada," he added that such terrorist attacks will not deter Pakistan from its aim to eradicate terrorism.

Read: Khanzada’s martyrdom: PM, others express profound grief

Premier Nawaz concluded his speech by congratulating the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission on the timely start of concrete pouring of K-2 power plant and thanking the Chinese government for its support, as well as the Chinese delegation for being a part of the ceremony.

PM Nawaz arrives in Karachi

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday arrived in Karachi for a one-day visit, during which he is expected to chair a meeting to review the law and order situation of the city.

According to sources, a high level meeting will be held at the Governor House where Rangers and Corps Commanders will brief PM Nawaz on the law and order situation, along with the ongoing Karachi operations which were put in place to eliminate terrorism.

He will be briefed further by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and chief secretary Sindh.

The recent attack on  Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Rashid Godil is also expected to come under discussion during the meeting.

Read: John Kerry phones PM Nawaz

During his short visit, PM Nawaz is scheduled to visit the city's Hub area to launch a unit of the K-2 project of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP).

The premier is also scheduled to meet the Parsi community at a hi tea hosted in his honour, after which he will depart for Islamabad.