Representatives of different banks operational in Karachi have sought improvement in security protocols to help avert instances of bank robberies in the metropolis. In a meeting chaired by Commissioner of Karachi, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui on Monday to review arrangements for security of the banks, their staff and clients the bankers also sought close co-ordination among all concerned stakeholders.
The meeting among others was also attended by Additional Commissioner, Karachi - One, Aslam Khoso, Secretary Banking Council, representatives of State Bank of Pakistan and Additional Inspector General Police - Karachi besides Chairman, All Pakistan Security Agencies. Siddiqui registering his concern about frequent instances of bank robbery in the metropolis directed institutional heads of commercial banks to ensure absolute compliance to specific security protocols.
Asking the officials associated with different banks to update security arrangements for their respective banks, the meeting extensively discussed lacunae registered in the security arrangements available on and around bank premises and agreed upon need for issuance of arms' licenses for guards registered with private security agencies. The Karachi Commissioner directed the Additional Commissioner-Karachi to be in constant contact with provincial home department and pursue the status of the summary forwarded by the department to higher authorities in the province.
The representative of the State Bank of Pakistan informed the meeting that bank specific security protocols are regularly communicated to all institutional heads of the banks in the city by SBP. It was agreed that representatives of the banks would be invited to forward their respective suggestion to improve security of banks, their employees as well as their clients and account holders.
A co-ordination committee in this context was constituted on the occasion to develop a fool proof security arrangements for the banks. Additional Commissioner - One of Karachi, Secretary, Banking Council, representatives of SBP and police department and private security agencies were decided to be among the members of the proposed co-ordination committee.
Karachi Commissioner directed the committee to finalise their proposals for improvement in the existent security protocols by September 24. The meeting agreed that the office of Deputy Commissioner - South will assist Security Agencies Association in providing needed space for improved capacities of the security guards through regular training. The representative of IGP - Karachi informed the meeting that security arrangements for banks in the city were reviewed on regular basis and it was during this exercise that 10 groups were apprehended while planning to loot the banks.
"It was due to adequate vigilance that they could not succeed and were caught red handed, " claimed the police official. He also mentioned that more than 50 culprits involved in bank robbery cases have been traced through close circuit cameras installed around different banks in the city.