Security plan for Karachi's harbour to be imposed next week

The much awaited security plan for Karachi's harbour, which the government had chalked out soon after the Mumbai attack in November 2008, is expected to be imposed next week, Business Recorder learnt Monday. The security plan has been prepared to curb those crimes that are committed by using the sea channel.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan had faced a lot of criticism from its neighbour (India) for not having adequate security measures at Karachi's harbour from where notorious Ajmal Kasab is said to have entered Mumbai to lead the attack. According to sources, a threat from seafood exporters to call off their business activities at Karachi's harbour because of poor security arrangements has actually pushed the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) to impose the plan in the next week.
After the imposition of this plan, all government and private employees working at the fish harbour would have to obtain entry cards, while the visitors would have to submit national identity cards at the main gates to get entry passes for the harbour area. "No one would be allowed to enter the harbour area without entry passes," an official of the KFHA apprised.
In this regard, the KFHA authority has sought a special approval from the Planning and Development Department to hire a private security firm's services at approximately Rs 0.7 million per month on contract basis, which would be valid for a year. The firm would deploy retired army personnel at the gates of the fish harbour, the official added. However, he said, the police would continue to patrol the area.
Sources in the fisheries sector have said that exporters also have plans to depute private security service at their factories. The official said the 'KPT gate' - one of the gates to enter the harbour area is likely to be closed for all movements as it is alleged that the KPT gate is an access for wrong doers.
Official said the exporters had continuously been asking the KFHA and Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Bhurgari to provide them with adequate security, particularly after a recent incident in which millions of rupees worth export bound shrimps consignment was stolen from the harbour area. After several meetings, the minister directed the KFHA to impose the plan, he added.
The fishermen co-operative society has also chalked out its programme to support the KFHA's security arrangements by directing its employees to wear gowns inside the 'red-zone' to differentiate themselves from others. The KFHA has also asked the 'mole' holder to provide uniforms to his employees working in the red zone of Karachi's harbour, the official said. Miscreants are resisting the imposition of this security plan, he said, but the KFHA is determined to impose it, he added.