Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Khan Siyal said here on Tuesday that the government was simplifying the procedure for issuing arms licences. Speaking at a meeting of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), he said that arms licences will be issued to the business community on priority after simplifying arms license issuing policy.
Referring to the operation currently under way against criminals, he said that the provincial government was carrying out this operation through its own resources and the federal government has provided only 500 rifles. He deplored that although Chief of Army Staff had assured Sindh chief minister that funds will be provided to Sindh government for meeting the expenses of the operation, the federal government has not yet released the funds.
He said that the government with a view to providing safety and security to industrialists and workers has taken special measures control law and order situation in the city's industrial and commercial areas. The minister said that he has directed additional IGP to ensure that all station house officers (SHOs) must remain available in their respective police stations during duty hours.
Siyal said that around 8,000 to 10,000 youths will be employed in police department to further strengthen the police department. With regard to condition of wearing helmets by motorcyclists and pillion riders, the minister said that though women have been exempted from wearing helmet there will be no relaxation for male motorcyclists and their pillion riders.
He said a number of precious lives could be saved by wearing helmets by motorcyclists and their pillion riders. Referring to persisting water shortage issue, he said that Sindh government was aware of the problem and claimed that water supply projects could not be undertaken earlier as the funds were not released by the federal government. Regarding land mafia, he said that Commissioner Karachi has been instructed to intensify crackdown against land grabbers with the help of police.
Earlier, Kati president Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui said that law and order situation in industrial areas could be improved only with the effective patrolling by police. He regretted that trade and industry was, on the one hand, experiencing severe energy and water crises and, on the other, poor law and order situation has crippled their businesses.