KARACHI: With an increase of around Rs5billion, the Sindh government on Tuesday allocated Rs124.873bn in the head of law and order in its budget for fiscal year 2022-23 compared to Rs119.98bn allocated in the outgoing fiscal year.

The government also promised to set up “Witness Identification Centre” in Karachi with an aim to expedite trial in high-profile cases by providing security to prosecution witnesses.

“Law and order has always remained one of the primary focus of the government of Sindh,” said Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while delivering the budget speech at the Sindh Assembly.

“We are constantly trying our best to provide safe and protected environment to the people, and it is our responsibility to protect the life and property of the people,” he said, adding: “For the next financial year 2022-23, the total allocation for home department, including Sindh Police and Jails, has been enhanced to Rs124.873bn from Rs119.98bn during current financial year.”

Rs5bn sanctioned for Sindh Safe Cities project

The CM in his speech also referred to recent incidents of terrorism, mainly in Karachi, calling them “extremely concerning”, and said the government was trying its best to ensure that proactive measures are taken to counter the recent wave of terrorism.

Under the head of “development”, the budget document mentions the construction of residential complex for officials of the High Court of Sindh with Rs345.856 million and conversion of Old Annexe Building into 12 Court of Sindh Building for SHC with Rs50m.

Construction of new women police stations in various districts of Sindh at Rs185.410m in first phase was also planned for the next fiscal.

Other key projects in the head of “development” also include establishment of a forensic laboratory in Karachi with Rs1bn, Sindh Safe Cities Project (Phase-I) with Rs5bn and construction of district jails in Thatta for 250 prisoners with Rs175m.

Among non-development head, an increase of Rs200m was made in food charges for better diet of prisoners in district and central prisons and judicial lock-ups across the province.

Under its prison reforms programmes, the Sindh CM in his speech referred to allocation of Rs57.578m as grant-in-aid on account of committee for the welfare of prisoners for provision of legal aid services to prisoners, educational services to women prisoners/juvenile prisoners, providing fine (in cash) to those prisoners who are unable to pay-off.

The budget document also gives sketchy plans of setting up 259 reporting rooms at police stations level across the province and witness identification centre in Karachi.

“We have made significant improvements in intelligence analysis by actively engaging all law enforcement agencies,” the CM said in his speech.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2022