President of the FPCCI AtifIkram Sheikh announced that Ghulam NabiMemon, Inspector General of Sindh Police, has agreed to appoint a focal person from the business community to address concerns related to law and order, aiming to safeguard economic activities and investments in the province. This step came after a detailed visit by the IG Sindh to the Federation House, Karachi, where top police officials met with business leaders to foster a closer working relationship and instill a sense of security.
During the meeting, AtifIkram Sheikh emphasized the urgent need to expedite the Safe City Project in Karachi to tackle the increasing issue of street crimes.
He stressed that enhanced security would position Karachi as a competitive city for both domestic and international investors, making it easier to establish industries without fear of crime.
SaquibFayyazMagoon, Senior Vice President of FPCCI, remarked that despite Karachi being safer than many global cities, it suffers from negative media portrayal. He suggested that the Sindh Police and FPCCI should collaborate on organizing a seminar to showcase the city’s business-friendly and progressive image to the world. Mian Zahid Hussain, Chairman of FPCCI’s Policy Advisory Board, added that FPCCI is conducting detailed research on the economies of major districts to unlock their investment and export potential.
He proposed assigning a police officer in each district to collaborate with FPCCI-PAB in carrying out this research. Ahmed Chinoy, former Chief of the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), highlighted the challenges faced by police constables, including the lack of proper protective gear and transportation. He called for treating the police on par with other security agencies, allowing them to better tackle crime and operate more effectively. Khalid Tawab, former SVP of FPCCI, pointed out that the CPLC’s activity has declined and needs revitalization. He also raised concerns about delays caused by restrictions on Chinese investors, who must have bullet-proof vehicles before leaving the city due to security risks.
The limited availability of such vehicles is causing disruptions. IG Sindh, Ghulam NabiMemon, responded by sharing that street crime in Karachi has significantly decreased, with fatal or injury-related incidents falling from an average of 2.5 per day in January 2024 to less than 1 by September 2024.
