Three years on: Memories of violence still haunt industrialists
Security conditions improve in industrial zone but fears remain.
KARACHI:
Even after three years, the memories of arson and plunder still haunt the industries of Karachi which were attacked by violent mobs in the aftermath of the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007.
Representatives of industrial areas say they still feel insecure even though they have improved their own security systems with public-private partnerships.
Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) Chairman Johar Ali Qandhari said the violence after the death of Mohtarma was unprecedented in the history of the city.
A number of industries including textile, towel and flour manufacturing units were torched in the three days after the incident, he said, adding “day-to-day security in the industrial area has partly improved but we will not be able to control the situation if any such incident challenges the security apparatus again.”
Sindh province, particularly Karachi city, was completely closed for more than four days after the death of Mohtarma in a gun-and-bomb attack at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007. Hundreds of trucks that were taking goods to the upcountry were put on fire on highways, while cars and industries were damaged, torched and looted in different areas of the city.
The Korangi industrial area has more than 3,000 big and small industries and it was the worst-hit industrial zone of the city.
A detailed assessment put the losses at Rs10 billion all over the country out of which Rs2 billion losses were only in Korangi, he said, adding that “the fear of arson and plunder is still fresh in our memories.”
Replying to a question, Qandhari said businessmen have stepped up efforts to improve security in industrial zones over the last three years. “We have provided equipment and vehicles to police stations in our area to increase their capacity, but this is not enough and we need to invest more,” he said.
“There are three police stations in the limits of Korangi Industrial Area and we are in close contact with all police officials.”
SITE Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Wahab Lakhani said security is a continuous problem for Karachi. “Whatever efforts we have made in controlling crime and improving security are not enough to completely control the problem.”
However, he said “we have not only mobilised ourselves but also police and Rangers to closely coordinate with industrialists and improve security in our area. We take daily reports from the two police stations in our area and closely coordinate with our crime monitoring cell to beef up security for over 3,000 industrial units in our zone.”
Former chairman of Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI) Idrees Gigi said street crimes have been curtailed over the last three years along with kidnapping for ransom but the overall security of the industrial zone is still not satisfactory.
The previous provincial government had given Rs250 million to each of the four big industrial zones of Karachi for building roads, sewerage lines and streets lights at the end of its tenure.
The industrial zones have spent those funds on infrastructure development only and not on security improvement as per government condition, he said.
Gigi added that both federal government and Sindh government had to provide Rs250 million each to the industrial zones but the Centre did not give its share.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2010.
Even after three years, the memories of arson and plunder still haunt the industries of Karachi which were attacked by violent mobs in the aftermath of the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007.
Representatives of industrial areas say they still feel insecure even though they have improved their own security systems with public-private partnerships.
Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) Chairman Johar Ali Qandhari said the violence after the death of Mohtarma was unprecedented in the history of the city.
A number of industries including textile, towel and flour manufacturing units were torched in the three days after the incident, he said, adding “day-to-day security in the industrial area has partly improved but we will not be able to control the situation if any such incident challenges the security apparatus again.”
Sindh province, particularly Karachi city, was completely closed for more than four days after the death of Mohtarma in a gun-and-bomb attack at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007. Hundreds of trucks that were taking goods to the upcountry were put on fire on highways, while cars and industries were damaged, torched and looted in different areas of the city.
The Korangi industrial area has more than 3,000 big and small industries and it was the worst-hit industrial zone of the city.
A detailed assessment put the losses at Rs10 billion all over the country out of which Rs2 billion losses were only in Korangi, he said, adding that “the fear of arson and plunder is still fresh in our memories.”
Replying to a question, Qandhari said businessmen have stepped up efforts to improve security in industrial zones over the last three years. “We have provided equipment and vehicles to police stations in our area to increase their capacity, but this is not enough and we need to invest more,” he said.
“There are three police stations in the limits of Korangi Industrial Area and we are in close contact with all police officials.”
SITE Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Wahab Lakhani said security is a continuous problem for Karachi. “Whatever efforts we have made in controlling crime and improving security are not enough to completely control the problem.”
However, he said “we have not only mobilised ourselves but also police and Rangers to closely coordinate with industrialists and improve security in our area. We take daily reports from the two police stations in our area and closely coordinate with our crime monitoring cell to beef up security for over 3,000 industrial units in our zone.”
Former chairman of Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI) Idrees Gigi said street crimes have been curtailed over the last three years along with kidnapping for ransom but the overall security of the industrial zone is still not satisfactory.
The previous provincial government had given Rs250 million to each of the four big industrial zones of Karachi for building roads, sewerage lines and streets lights at the end of its tenure.
The industrial zones have spent those funds on infrastructure development only and not on security improvement as per government condition, he said.
Gigi added that both federal government and Sindh government had to provide Rs250 million each to the industrial zones but the Centre did not give its share.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2010.