THIS is with reference to the editorial ‘Sindh lawlessness’ (June 15). It was a dark portrayal of the situation in the province which did not take into account the efforts being made by the police force. Several areas have seen improvement and they include Karachi as well with respect to the various crime and safety challenges. Indeed, sustainability is crucial, and it is only with time that the communities will feel and acknowledge the change.

The challenges in Kashmore and Ghotki are the toughest because of the local demographics. However, the provincial government and law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) are both committed to rooting out the menace of lawlessness. The people, however, need to understand that the whole process is going to take some time because of military-grade weapons and social media connectivity that are abundantly available to the lawless.

In Karachi, the police leadership and field officers are making dedicated efforts to control street crimes that are a direct corollary of rampant drug abuse and trafficking of small weapons. Funds have been allocated by the government for the procurement of 4,000 bracelets to be affixed on habitual offenders of nine serious offences. This would work as a deterrence for the offenders involved in street crimes, particularly in Karachi.

With th eplanned restructuring of police stations, and a series of initiatives like Smart Surveillance, Safe City projects and facial recognition technology, things will improve further in the years ahead. It is just that it will all take some time.

Sindh Police Spokesperson
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024