KARACHI – Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza has given formal approval for bringing reforms in the policing system through a public-private partnership. An official statement on Monday said that Mirza has asked Home Affairs Consultant Sharfuddin Memon to convene a joint meeting with the Karachi Capital City Police officer (CCPO) and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) at the earliest. Mirza observed that the public-private venture is very much in line with the concept of community policing and efforts should be geared up to expand the network of community policing at all police stations in order to ensure and maintain peace.
The home affairs consultant briefed the home minister about the proposal put forward by the Police Reform Initiative, an NGO.
He stated that the Darakhshan police station in Clifton Town has been selected as a model police station to commence the public-private partnership concept in the first phase. Memon also spelled out the salient features of the project, both in terms of physical infrastructure as well as in terms of function, such as the attitude of the police personnel at the Darakhshan police station is a testimony to the fact that the functioning of the police department could be reformed without spending too much money, time or effort.
He outlined the details of the first phase of this initiative with special focus on a two-point agenda, namely improved traffic system and removal of beggars from the streets.
Memon said that a memorandum of understanding would be signed between the police and the Police Reforms Initiative (PRI) to undertake the project and a managing committee – consisting of PRI members, police officers and members of the civil society, and headed by the CCPO – would be constituted for implementation of the programme. “PRI is providing volunteer services to improve the infrastructure of police stations, provide petrol for police mobiles, aid in constructing a cafeteria where meal could be available by paying 30 percent of the cost of food, and installing a 40 kilovolt-amperes stand-by generator,” he added.
The home minister appreciated the proposed volunteer services of the NGO and asked for expediting implementation of the project beginning at the Darakhshan police station.
