Street Crimes in Karachi Dropped by 50% in First 3 Months of 2024

Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho claimed on Friday that street crimes in the city, which have claimed 100 lives so far, have decreased by 50% in the first quarter of 2024.

“The police are prioritizing the elimination of street crimes,” said Odho, who took over as Karachi’s top cop in July this year.

Last week, he initiated combing operations, increased patrolling, and other measures to curb crime in the city. Speaking on Geo News’ “Geo Pakistan,” Odho emphasized the need for a modern command and control center to effectively tackle crime.

“In the first phase of the Safe City project, 25% of the cameras will be installed,” he said, updating on the long-delayed project, which aims to enhance the city’s surveillance and crime response capabilities.

Last month, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also provided an update on the project, calling it a key step toward making Karachi safer. Shah mentioned that the first phase has been accelerated, reaching several milestones. Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon added that 1,300 cameras would be installed across different locations, with 50 poles already in place. The control room, data center equipment, and a video wall have been set up at the Central Police Office (CPO), currently receiving live feeds from 35 cameras.

Odho also revealed that a major criminal gang from the Site Super Highway area had been arrested, and suspects involved in recent high-profile robberies have been detained, thanks to improvements in police investigation methods.

He expressed sorrow over the death of a police officer who was killed while bravely fighting robbers, stating that the fallen officer would be nominated for a civil award.

Regarding the rise in terrorism, Odho stressed that anti-terrorism support is essential to counterterrorism, noting that the approach needed for combating terrorism differs from that of other crimes.

Street crime remains a significant issue in Karachi, with over 50,000 incidents reported by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) between January and August this year. These statistics reflect only reported cases, and many incidents may go unreported. On average, 208 cases are reported daily, with mobile phone, car, and motorbike thefts being the most common. In addition to losing valuables, around 100 people have been killed by street criminals, and nearly 500 others have been injured by gunfire from robbers.