Karachi: SSP Korangi Kamran Khan emphasized the urgent need for a Business Facilitation Desk to streamline investigations and curb illegal activities in the Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi’s economic hub. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Khan underscored that modernizing security infrastructure and activating advanced technology systems could significantly reduce crime rates. However, he highlighted a severe shortage of police personnel, noting that the district currently requires an additional 1,400 officers, a gap which has been reported to the Inspector General of Sindh.
According to Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, the gathering brought together KATI President Junaid Naqi, Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, Law and Order Committee Chairman Danish Khan, and other senior members, who discussed growing concerns over crime. SSP Khan outlined plans for more effective police deployment, including appointing a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to specifically address industrialists’ needs and encroachment issues in Korangi. He expressed commitment to tackling crime through a cooperative approach with KATI, alongside a long-term strategy to modernize the policing system.
KATI President Junaid Naqi called on law enforcement to address persistent street crimes and robberies targeting individuals withdrawing funds from banks. With 1.5 million people visiting Korangi Industrial Area daily for work, Naqi emphasized the importance of creating a secure environment to boost public confidence in the police. While some crime reduction has been noted, he warned that incidents of fatal shootings during robberies continue to undermine the sense of safety in the area.
Zubair Chhaya, KATI Deputy Patron-in-Chief, raised concerns over extortion and blackmail by certain groups posing as labor welfare organizations. He advocated for immediate action against these groups, noting that the successful Neighborhood Care Security Project, which uses private guards to cover shortfalls in police manpower, has helped reduce crime in parts of Korangi. Chhaya urged for increased police patrolling and measures to eliminate roadside encroachments, including unauthorized hotels believed to harbor criminal elements.
Danish Khan, Chairman of KATI’s Standing Committee for Peace and Order, added that Korangi district’s limited force of 1,600 personnel necessitated the hiring of private guards for crime prevention. The model has proven effective, though an estimated 1,200 to 1,400 additional personnel are still needed to meet security needs. Former KATI President Masood Naqi and other leaders also voiced their concerns about the ongoing security challenges in Korangi, advocating for sustained collaboration to improve the area’s law and order.