Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah today announced a significant improvement in the province’s law and order situation, attributing a more than 44 per cent reduction in mobile and vehicle snatching and theft to extensive police reforms and technological integration.
Addressing officers from the Pakistan Navy at CM House, the chief minister stated that these measures have also resulted in a drop of over 60 per cent in deaths and injuries during robberies between January 2024 and November 2025.
Mr. Shah detailed a multipronged strategy focused on modernising the Sindh Police, a force established in 1843 with 162,000 personnel and a budget of nearly Rs190 billion. He explained that reforms target the foundational level, with hundreds of police stations being renovated, upgraded, and granted financial autonomy to empower Station House Officers (SHOs) and improve accountability.
A cornerstone of the new approach is the adoption of advanced technology. The chief minister highlighted the Police Station Record Management System, which digitises case entries and links them directly to forensic labs and court systems, allowing for transparent online monitoring by judges.
Furthermore, the Sindh Smart Surveillance System (S4), featuring AIenabled cameras at toll plazas, has been integrated with criminal and excise databases, leading to the arrest of hundreds of suspects. Counterterrorism efforts have been bolstered by a modern CTD Fusion Centre that leverages big data and advanced analytical tools.
Other digital initiatives include a Hotel Eye Management System for guest tracking, an Employee Verification System using biometrics, and the “Talash” handheld device, which allows officers to conduct onthespot biometric record checks. Bodyworn cameras have also been introduced to increase transparency during patrols.
The chief minister also described a strategic shift in operations within the Kacha (riverine) areas of Sukkur, Ghotki, Kashmore, and Shikarpur. A new offensive framework of “attack, surrender, deweaponisation, and mainstreaming” has resulted in hundreds of dacoits being killed, injured, or arrested since 2024, alongside the surrender of dozens of wanted bandits.
In the campaign against narcotics and organised crime, Mr. Shah reported an 89 per cent arrest rate among topcategory drug sellers from January to November 2025.
Specialised units have been established to enhance operational capacity, including Centralised Investigation Cells, the Special Security Unit (SSU) for highrisk events, a Rapid Response Force (RRF), a Crowd Management Unit with a women”s wing, and a dedicated Highway Patrol.
Looking forward, the government plans to complete the Karachi Safe City Project, which integrates 12,000 CCTV cameras with national databases, and implement electronic tagging for repeat offenders to improve monitoring. The S4 surveillance system is also set to be expanded across major cities to curb crossborder crime and smuggling.
Mr. Shah emphasised the government”s commitment to the welfare of its police force, which has lost 2,553 personnel in the line of duty. Families of martyred officers receive substantial financial compensation, continued salaries, employment, health insurance, and educational scholarships.
The chief minister concluded that the objective is to build a professional, technologyenabled, and communityfocused police force to ensure citizen safety. The visiting naval delegation reportedly acknowledged the progress made in the force”s modernisation and operational effectiveness.