The incidents of snatching trucks loaded with industrial goods at gun point have assumed alarming proportion in the city. A truck, loaded with 380 bags of plastic moulding compound, while in transit from an Site godown to the factory of Mian Nazir Sons Industries (Private) Ltd at Hub Chowki, was robbed at gunpoint in broad day light on September 17.
This was the second incident of this nature within one month. Earlier a truck, loaded with 300 bags of plastic moulding compound raw material, belonging to the same company was robbed at gun point near Naval bridge on August 19. FIRs in both cases were lodged at Mauripur police station.
Shaukat Ahmed, Chairman of Standing Committee on Customs, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), in a letter sent to the Additional Inspector-General of Police, Karachi on September 17, informed him that these robberies have created panic and were unable to run their factory. He has requested for immediate action as such incidents may force other factories to close down, which will result in unemployment.
He said that his company is employing more than 500 persons and paying heavy taxes to the government. "The on-going law and order situation in Karachi has almost brought business activity to a halt and our industry is in deep crisis," he said.
The Secretary General of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) also wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Police on September 19 informing him that both incidents took place near Naval bridge on Northern Bypass in the jurisdiction of Mauripur police station. The value of goods contained in the two trucks amounted to Rs 3.2 million. "While no action was taken on the first incident, the second incident of similar nature happened. This has created panic in the area and has not reflected positively on the police performance," the FPCCI letter said.
Drawing attention to the unpleasant law and order situation, robbery and threats being faced by businessmen in Karachi which have almost brought business activities to a halt and "our industries are in deep crisis," the FPCCI letter requested the police chief to "kindly pursue the matter seriously so that the criminals involved are apprehended and brought to book. This will boost the confidence of business community in the law enforcement agencies."