KARACHI: The Katcha areas of Sindh should be rehabilitated if they surrender to the state, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday. Chairing a meeting on Sindh’s law and order situation in Sukkur, the president also emphasised the need to improve the road, healthcare and education infrastructure of the Kacha areas on a priority basis to improve the socio-economic conditions of its residents.

Those who surrendered should be gradually brought into the mainstream and rehabilitated to make them responsible and productive citizens of the country, he said.

President Zardari also advised that a national jirga, comprising of tribal chiefs, should be convened to engage and negotiate with the local population to bring normalcy, as well as prevent crimes, de-weaponise and improve the security situation in the area.

Stresses need to better infrastructure, improve lives of katcha residents; proposes national jirga to bring together tribal chiefs

President Zardari was briefed about the law-and-order situation in the province and the implementation status of the directions given during the meeting held on May 1. He was apprised that the crimes and violence in Sindh, especially in Karachi and Kacha areas, had witnessed a declining trend due to the effective strategy adopted by the police and Rangers.

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon informed the meeting that dacoits’ activities had been considerably reduced and no highway-related crime had been reported over the past two months.

It was highlighted that targeted operations and installation of smart cameras had helped control crime and identify and arrest criminals, as well as their abettors.