Karachi can be protected from terrorist attacks by installing surveillance cameras and scanning systems at the city’s entry and exit points and sensitive places including railway stations, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Chairman Muhammad Noman Saigol said in a statement issued on Sunday.
“The security situation can be improved if precautions similar to that practiced at airports are adopted,” he added. “The rail and road transportation always allows odd movements due to the lack of a technology-based security system in place.”
Saigol, who is also a former information technology, health and environment minister, said that advance surveillance and scanning systems are used at the entry and exit points of cities around the world to keep a check on the movement of unwanted people or material.
“Surveillance cameras and scanning system should be installed at all railway stations to ensure safety in trains and stop the movement of any dangerous material to the major cities of the country.” Saigol said that the transportation and highway departments should consider starting new information technology projects that can help improve the surveillance and scanning systems.
“Different government departments should be connected to each other. The federal and provincial information technology departments should be consulted for technology-based security measures and projects should be started as soon as possible.” The FPCCI chairman pointed out that the ratio of air transportation is not even 10 percent of the total travelling traffic in the country as the major modes of transportation are road and trains.
“Human and luggage scanners are very effective. The government needs to consider projects including e-policing or e-transportation. Technology is the key to the safety of our country.”
