Sabahat Sarwar
Karachi: Emphasising the need for public participation in maintaining law and order, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho has said that effective policing is not possible without the cooperation of citizens, while mutual trust, communication and shared responsibility remain central to community policing. He was speaking at a seminar on “The Importance of Community Policing”, organised by Community Policing Karachi (CPK), which was attended by Additional IG Karachi, the Principal Secretary to the Governor of Sindh, DIG South, Consul General of the Philippine, Founder Indus Hospital, Representatives of the Bohra community, President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sindh High Court Bar Association and CPK’s chairman and vice chairman from Hyderabad. Representatives of more than 70 traders’ associations from across the city also attended. A short film highlighting the activities of Community Policing Karachi and the performance of Sindh Police was screened on the occasion.
In his address, IGP Odho said more than 2,600 police personnel had laid down their lives while maintaining peace and protecting citizens across the province. He said their sacrifices remained a reminder of the force’s responsibility towards public safety. Referring to the Safe City project, the IGP said the Sindh government had extended support to the police in its implementation. 1,200 cameras had been installed during the first phase, while another 2,000 were planned for the second phase. With the support of citizens and traders, the total number of surveillance cameras across Karachi had increased from 32,000 to 40,000. He said the police had achieved an overall crime detection rate of 89 per cent, while incidents of street crime, killings and injuries during robberies and vehicle snatching had declined compared with the previous year. Measures had also been taken to strengthen security at the province’s entry and exit points. IGP said the use of modern technology had become essential for policing, adding that the Sindh Police IT department was working on digital systems for security personnel verification and the maintenance of domestic workers’ records. The Electronic Verification System was among the initiatives being used for this purpose.
Additional IG Karachi Azad Khan said effective policing in Karachi remained a major challenge, but measures were being taken in accordance with the provincial government’s directives and the IGP’s vision. He said surveillance cameras had helped police prevent and detect crime. Work was also underway on a mobile application aimed at bringing greater transparency to the purchase and sale of mobile phones.
CPK founder Murad Soni said the organisation had formally begun its activities in 2022 and had since received international recognition. The participation of around 70 traders’ associations reflected the business community’s willingness to work with the police to improve security and prevent crime. He said command and control centers had been established at 18 police stations, while more than 2,000 cameras had been installed across the city. He attributed a 60 per cent decline in street crime to the use of surveillance cameras and modern monitoring technology. Futher CPK had also undertaken environmental initiatives, including a plantation campaign under which more than 100,000 saplings had been planted across Karachi. In collaboration with Motorway Police, it had also worked to facilitate the issuance of international driving licences in Karachi, eliminating the need for residents to travel to Islamabad for the service.
Speaking at the seminar, Dr Abdul Bari Khan founder indus hospital said community policing was based on cooperation between the police and the public. He said the sacrifices of more than 2,500 police personnel reflected the force’s commitment to maintaining peace. Consul General Phillipine Dr Imran Yousuf described community policing as a means of building trust and understanding between law enforcement agencies and citizens. He also appreciated the Sindh Police’s Milaap application, saying it had helped secure the recovery of three children within a short period. The seminar concluded with the presentation of a commemorative shield to IGP Javed Alam Odho by Community Policing Karachi.
