KARACHI: Commissioner of Karachi, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui has ordered that all surveillance cameras installed by private security agencies at different banks and other financial institutions must be immediately linked to central control rooms of Karachi Police and Karachi Commissioner office.
This was in response to a report presented to him by IG - Sindh's representative SSP Shiraz Nazir that 121 bank heists were registered in the metropolis during past two years and 69 of these cases were solved through arrest of culprits and retrieval of looted money.
The report presented during a meeting of concerned stakeholders, here the other day, also showed that culprits engaged in bank robbery are generally found to be in their early 30s or below and trained enough to commit the crime in minutes' time.
The commissioner said Prompt Response Time plays key role in controlling crime related incidents and therefore CCTVs at banks must necessarily be linked to central control rooms of the police and administration respectively.
Representatives of Governor of State Bank of Pakistan, Amanullah and Mir Karamat, SP - Saddar, Syed Salman, All Pakistan Security Agencies' Col (retd) Tariq, Col (retd) Ebrahim and Major (retd) Munir Ahmed, representative of President, Habib Bank Limited and its security in-charge, Anwar ul Huda, Lt Col (retd) Kamran Zaidi, Brig (retd) Rashid of Security 2001, Additional Commissioner of Karachi (one) Aslam Khoso, Deputy Commissioner (South), Mustafa Jamal Kazi were among the participants of the meeting.
The Commissioner registering his serious concern about the situation, with particular reference to I.I. Chundrigar Road, said the area that is equivalent to Wall Street of Pakistan has to be made an example in terms of security of institutions and safety of workers.
He on the occasion ordered immediate removal of all unauthorized traffic parking in front of banks so as to avert instances of bank heist as well as that of snatchery in the city.
Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui taking strong exception to the quality of training provided to security guards hired by banks agreed to the suggestion of the participants that these must necessarily be ex-service men, adequately groomed and well versed to operate arms at their disposal.
He assured that these registered guards would be, through their respective agencies, facilitated to procure arms license to be used in realization of professional obligations.
The Commissioner of Karachi also ordered that Special Response Force be formed for security of all offices located on I.I Chundrigar Road.
He said district level committees be established for security of banks in each of the district with Deputy Commissioners being their head to prevent instances of bank heist and dacoities.
Siddiqui said that not only each of these banks must have a fool proof alarm system but none of the security guards be allowed un- uniformed during duty hours in the bank nor a plain clothed policeman be allowed to carry his official or unofficial weapon on the bank premises.
The Commissioner of Karachi said that public security is the prime responsibility of police, however, coordination among different civic agencies and private organizations is also important.
This, he said was in particular context of implementation of schemes and programs meant to benefit citizens in general.
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