Sindh committed to strengthening police with bigger budget, training: CM

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has emphasised his government’s commitment to strengthening the police through increased budgetary allocations, advanced equipment, specialised training and strengthening constables for investigation.

Officials said the CM stressed the importance of restoring public trust through improved accountability and adherence to jurisdictional boundaries, advocating for greater functional autonomy for the police to avoid inter-service conflicts.

He said this while addressing members of the Association of Former Inspectors General of Police (AFIGP) led by its President Azfal Shigri at the CM House on Friday. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon and others.

The discussion focused on enhancing governance, accountability and functional autonomy within the department.

The CM reaffirmed the Sindh government’s dedication to empowering police by boosting budget allocations, providing advanced equipment and implementing specialised training programmes. He emphasised the necessity of rebuilding public trust through improved accountability and strict adherence to jurisdictional limits, pushing for greater functional independence for the police to prevent inter-service disputes.

He noted the significant shift in the power balance between the civil service and police since 2002 and urged for better cooperation among agencies. He told the visiting guests that the establishment of a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory in Sindh was under way. “I have no issue with arranging funds, but the issue which usually crops up is that of human resources,” he said and added that he had issued directives to arrange experts from the market.

Former police chiefs suggested empowering constables by improving their literacy, writing and IT skills. The CM said he had trickled down financial empowerment at the police station level but strengthening the constables was the need of the hour.

Participants advised the CM to establish a centralised resource management system (RMS) for logging and monitoring police complaints. It was agreed that there was a need to set up an RMS-based complaint cell where non-police officials were posted to register complaints. Exploration of adopting an urban policing model similar to Scotland Yard, and incorporating efficient crime detection and victim support mechanisms were also discussed. The CM asked the former IGs to send their recommendations for the purpose.

Addressing outstanding issues, the meeting reviewed the ongoing dispute over 150 acres of land allocated to the Sindh police in Hyderabad since 1972. Discussions also covered plans to improve Karachi’s traffic management and expand the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) to other cities.

The Sindh government’s recent introduction of medical insurance for police personnel and their families received praise from the former IGs as a model initiative for the nation. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to collaborative reform efforts.