In its annual budget 2013-14, the Sindh government earmarked Rs 48 billion for law and order, making it the second largest sector after education. Delivering the budget speech on Monday, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said law and order was among the provincial government’s top priorities. “Keeping the prevailing law and order in view, the provincial government has allocated Rs 48.63 billion to the law and order sector,” he said. He vowed 10,000 new posts had been created to address the shortage of police personnel in the province. “We are trying to mobilize additional resources through new fiscal measures which will enable us to increase the number of new posts for the police to 20,000’” he added. Shah said the staff recruited against these posts would be given high quality rigorous training to turn them into a strong and professional workforce.
“This trained work force is expected to give us better results in combating organised crime,” he said. Recalling past achievements, the Sindh chief minister said “we have achieved some success in detecting crime and foiling criminal attempts by embracing new technologies to improve surveillance”.
“To further strengthen our systems in Karachi, Rs 400 million have been reserved for purchase and installation of surveillance cameras,” he said, adding, “Miscreants and terrorists challenged us several times and tried to destroy the peace and tranquility of the province, but I assure you that they will never be successful, as we stand united and firm against them.”
“During the concluding financial year, we strengthened the Police Department by procuring APCs worth Rs 1.242 billion and Rs 2.79 billion was spent to strengthen law enforcement agencies, which includes provisioning of GSM locator facility for police,” he said, adding that “we have not forgotten the sacrifices of our jawans and people who have embraced martyrdom.”
“The provincial government spent Rs 400 million on compensation for victim families,” Shah said, adding, “In an effort to control proliferation of illegal arms, we have introduced a computerised arms licensing system and Rs 16.50 million have been earmarked for the project in next the Financial Year 2013-14,” he said.
