Karachi

Karachi Secure Metropolis mission: seven years late and counting

Published

10 months ago

January 21, 2023

KARACHI: The Secure Metropolis mission in Karachi, which promised the set up of 10,000 CCTV cameras, has been delayed for seven years regardless of a Supreme Court docket order to launch it in 2016.

The three way partnership between the Sindh authorities and the Nationwide Radio Telecommunication Company (NRTC) has been tormented by a number of setbacks, leading to a staggering 300 p.c improve within the estimated price of the mission.

Initially budgeted at Rs10 billion in 2011, when it was authorized, the price of the mission has now risen to Rs40 billion. The mission was set to incorporate the set up of CCTV cameras, the institution of command and management centres, the introduction of face and car recognition software program, and a biometric system to determine culprits.

Road crime in Pakistan’s largest metropolis has reached alarming ranges in recent times, leaving residents feeling unsafe and susceptible. Incidents of mugging, theft, and violent crime have risen sharply, with police struggling to maintain up with the rising variety of experiences.

The state of affairs has turn into so dire that many residents have taken to carrying firearms for their very own safety. The shortage of surveillance within the metropolis is seen as a serious contributing issue to the rise in road crime.

Even so, regardless of plans to observe the streets, the mission has been delayed for over seven years, and is but to be launched.

In April 2021, following stress from the federal authorities of Imran Khan, the province had authorized Rs30 billion to launch the mission. In Might of final yr, Syed Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister, ordered his administration to an in depth plan for the mission and invite bids for its bodily launch throughout the subsequent 4 months.

Nevertheless, regardless of his order, the plan is but to take off. The delay is because of a number of causes together with rising prices, lack of coordination and political wrangling.

The necessity for surveillance in Karachi is now extra pressing than ever. CCTV cameras not solely act as a deterrent to crime, however additionally they present important proof that can be utilized to deliver criminals to justice.

As well as, the set up of a command and management centre, such because the one established in Lahore, and the introduction of the face and car recognition software program and biometric techniques would even be a serious step ahead within the battle in opposition to road crime within the metropolis.

The ballooning price and delays from the provincial authorities have raised critical questions concerning the authorities’s efficiency which critics say is nothing wanting a travesty.

Karachi

VISA, VRG enter strategic partnership

Published

2 days ago

November 29, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

The SPA brings collectively VISA to assist empower the digitization of cost companies in Pakistan and VISA’s Central Europe, Center East and Africa (CEMEA) Area.

The VISA and VRG partnership seeks to deal with the World Financial institution and Pakistan’s “Nationwide Monetary Inclusion Technique” (NFIS) initiative in addressing the precise monetary wants and preferences of the native inhabitants significantly ladies, in tailoring digital cost options to match the varied calls for of Pakistan and VISA’s CEMEA area.

This progressive strategic collaboration is a step in direction of driving digital transformation throughout the federal government sector in assist of Pakistan’s cashless future agenda.

The purpose is to emphasise the significance, significantly in rising markets, of monetary inclusion and girls empowerment whereas offering monetary establishments and their prospects with extra decisions when making funds whereas enhancing the end-to-end velocity, transparency and higher buyer expertise.

The SPA primarily focuses on streamlining fragmented points of the monetary ecosystem utilizing the technological strengths of each entities. By leveraging VISA’s world attain and VRG’s understanding of the native market dynamics, showcased on World Financial Discussion board’s (WEF) SPOTLIGHT DAY by its EDISON ALLIANCE lately, the settlement intends to carry extra people and companies into the formal monetary system by integrating VISA’s cost infrastructure and applied sciences with VRG’s progressive monetary services and products with a customer-centric method.

This seamless and environment friendly VISA and VRG’s digital cost ecosystem will finally profit customers and companies all through Pakistan and VISA’s CEMEA Area.

Karachi

Over 45,000 theft incidents reported in Karachi in six months

Published

4 months ago

July 23, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

KARACHI: Karachi, the financial hub of Pakistan, is dealing with a extreme crime wave, with the newest report by the Residents Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) revealing over 45,000 incidents of theft reported inside six months, from January 1 to June 30.

Shockingly, greater than 70 residents misplaced their lives for resisting robberies, and a whole lot of others have been wounded.

The CPLC report additional highlighted that round 300 people misplaced their lives in violent incidents linked to private animosities and different disputes. This alarming pattern emphasizes the pressing want for concrete measures to fight crime in Karachi.

The federal government should take instant actions, together with rising the presence of law enforcement officials on the streets, enhancing the effectivity of the police pressure, and implementing strict measures in opposition to criminals, the report mentioned.

Equally essential, residents should keep vigilant and promptly report any suspicious exercise to the police, it added.

Karachi

Home theft gang lively in Defence and Clifton arrested by Karachi police

Published

5 months ago

June 28, 2023

Pakistaneo.com

KARACHI: In a profitable tip-off operation, the police apprehended two suspects allegedly concerned in a sequence of home robberies within the Protection and Clifton neighbourhoods of Karachi, as introduced by the police on Wednesday.

The captured people have been recognized as Ashraf, also called Achho, and Asif, who have been reportedly main a gang of thieves answerable for quite a few thefts within the upscale neighbourhoods.

Confirming the developments, Clifton Superintendent of Police (SP) Ahmed Chaudhry stated the Achho gang, comprising three robbers, has lengthy been sought by the police attributable to their alleged involvement in varied legal actions.

Throughout the operation, regulation enforcement officers managed to recuperate a big quantity of jewelry and different helpful objects price hundreds of thousands of rupees. Moreover, the police seized the instruments used within the thefts from the possession of the apprehended suspects.

Chaudhry underscored that the gang consisted of three members, with one in all their accomplices named Khurshid already serving a sentence in jail for his participation in related crimes.

In an announcement, the official additional disclosed that the gang had been working within the space for roughly 16 years, inflicting substantial losses to the residents.

Notably, the robber gang was additionally linked to a latest theft in a coastal space the place they managed to evade seize after looting over 100 tolas of gold. Moreover, the accused people have been linked to a high-value theft in Clifton, estimated to be price over Rs10 million.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested suspects have confessed to their involvement in dozens of theft incidents within the Protection and Clifton areas.