Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar on Saturday said that whenever financial challenges arise, all eyes turn toward the finance department. He was addressing the provincial assembly on the 2025-26 government budget.
Lanjar said that before formulating strategies and action plans against crime in Karachi, consultations and meetings with the opposition are held to gather suggestions. However, the government’s primary focus remains on eradicating street crime, which has contributed to a noticeable decline in the crime rate, he added.
He said the portfolio for the Sindh police includes a budget of Rs10.409 billion, encompassing both developmental and non-developmental ongoing schemes. At present, the Safe City project is of the utmost importance, he added.
He also said that this project integrates forensic labs and related facilities. Previously, evidence related to crimes had to be sent to Lahore, or assistance was sought from the University of Karachi, he added.
The minister said police fall under the jurisdiction of the home department. Compared to 2024, there has been a noticeable decrease in mobile phone snatching incidents this year, along with a reduction in crimes like carjacking and vehicle theft, he added. Similarly, he said, motorbike theft and snatching have also declined. He added that 28 cases resulted in 28 dacoits being eliminated.
He also said the government held meetings with business owners in the city and brought key scrap dealers on board. As a result, policies were drafted to tighten the noose around the necks of rogue elements, he added.
Lanjar said that under these policies, legal action was taken against 234 scrap dealers, leading to a decline in theft cases. The crackdown on the drug mafia has been a top priority at provincial level, with the government forming a dedicated narcotics department and enacting a special law in this regard, he added.
He highlighted the significant role of Pakistan’s president in these efforts, and acknowledged the commendable contributions of Faryal Talpur and the chief minister in the fight against drugs.
He announced the forming of special narcotics courts at provincial level to ensure swift processing and resolution of drug-related cases, expected to be concluded within six months.
He said that currently, there are 20 anti-terrorism courts (ATCs), which would be reduced to seven due to a decrease in terrorism cases. Thankfully, police now have better control over terrorism incidents, he added. He pointed out that similar reductions in ATCs would be made in other cities, and new narcotics courts would be established.
He mentioned the creation of a provincial task force to combat the drug mafia that comprises young ASPs who have been warned of accountability if they fail to take action.
He also said officers involved in drug dealings would face disciplinary action, and letters regarding such officers would be sent to the federal government. Reports of drug use in schools have been received, and while the government wants to avoid tarnishing the image of any school, school administrations must cooperate with police, he added.
He described drugs as a curse and a growing crisis, with addicts commonly seen begging under bridges. He revealed that 70 per cent of the suspects arrested in street crime cases are drug addicts.
The minister said that reports indicate the involvement of certain police officers in this illegal trade. Strict action is being taken against such black sheep within the police force, and only reputable officers are being assigned key responsibilities, he added.
He said the task force is also active in Sukkur, Hyderabad and Larkana. According to reports, over 8,000 drug dealers have been arrested in Karachi alone, but this is still insufficient, so the government needs to target major drug lords, he added.
He also addressed the criticism over the rising traffic accidents, acknowledging the opposition’s constructive role. He stressed that the government is working on a strategy, and plans to introduce new traffic management laws, reviewing existing rules and regulations.
He explained that e-challan has been introduced, although challenges remain. He also said that under the Safe City project, the government would utilise the available facilities.
Efforts are being made to link privately installed CCTV cameras across the city to the relevant police stations, and police officers will also be equipped with body cameras, while improvement of traffic light systems and amendments to traffic laws are under way, he added.
Lanjar said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has a Traffic Engineering Bureau, but a joint team has now been formed that comprises representatives from the excise and transport departments.
The airport corridor and red zone are included in phase-I of the Safe City project, with plans to operationalise and activate these areas, he added, pointing out that Clifton would also be part of this phase.
He said that this would benefit both the police and excise departments, facilitating a one-window operation for challans. Similarly, the G2 project has been allotted to the National Radio & Telecommunication Corporation, he added.
He also said that 1,300 cameras have been installed. “We believe that the Safe City project should have become fully functional in a shorter time frame, which would have undoubtedly brought greater stability and strength to the law and order situation.”
A budget has also been allocated this year for the Sukkur Safe City project, while the S4 project is already under way in the province, and the Safe City initiatives will also be introduced in Larkana, Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas, he added.
The minister said that currently, the total police workforce stands at 171,041 personnel, with salary expenditures amounting to Rs153.78 billion. The current minimum base salary for police personnel is Rs51,000, he added.
He said police recruitment is conducted in a highly transparent, impartial and merit-based manner, and job offer letters are being issued to successful candidates. A total of 54,000 candidates have passed the recruitment process, and the cabinet has decided that they will be accommodated within the available job positions, he added.
He also said the establishment of the forensic lab is ongoing, and the CM has decided that similar to the Safe City model, additional government offices would be established within the lab’s building.
He acknowledged challenges in the Kutcha areas, but noted that currently, there are no kidnapping cases in Sukkur Division. In contrast, Larkana Division had 34 kidnapping cases last year, which have now been reduced to just nine, he added.
He remarked that police are actively working on recovering the remaining hostages. He stressed that despite long-standing challenges in District Larkana, police remain committed and proactive, while the gangs involved have been identified, and it is expected that they would be busted in the near future.
He mentioned that the National Highway, the Shikarpur Highway and the Quetta Highway are operational and secure, while the Indus Highway is also operational, and there is no need for convoy protection at any point.
