In response to potential terrorist threats and rising militancy, the Sindh government today ordered the immediate establishment of a dedicated Drone Surveillance Unit to monitor sensitive areas. The directive was issued by Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar during a high-level meeting convened to review the province”s overall law and order situation.
The decision came during a session at the Central Police Office where the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Sindh presented a detailed briefing on the current security landscape and ongoing threats. Mr Lanjar emphasised the need for more effective and purposeful intelligence reports, particularly from border regions, to enable the development of proactive strategies against potential dangers.
The Home Minister instructed officials to formulate a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to curb the activities of proscribed organisations, sectarianism, and militancy. He stressed that security for all key locations, including sensitive installations, must be elevated to an extraordinary level, with entry and exit points to the province being fully secured. This heightened security is also to be extended to mosques, madrasas, and imambargahs in consultation with their respective administrations.
Furthermore, Mr Lanjar directed senior officers to increase their presence in the field rather than remaining confined to their offices to actively oversee responsibilities. Instructions were also issued to intensify a range of security measures, including intelligence-led operations, snap checking, reconnaissance monitoring, and extensive patrolling.
A comprehensive security audit of all important and sensitive installations was also ordered. The Home Minister requested detailed recommendations for bolstering the resource capacity of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) with advanced equipment such as drones, modern vehicles, and explosive detectors.
He highlighted that upgrading the Special Branch is a pressing requirement, assigning it a frontline role in counter-terrorism and mandating its modernisation to meet contemporary challenges. He added that the Special Branch would function as a core intelligence wing for the province, with a focus on making its reports more robust and reliable to ensure sustainable peace.
The meeting concluded with a directive for all relevant institutions to maintain law and order through improved coordination, proactive planning, and integrated security operations. The high-level gathering was attended by senior security officials, including Javed Alam Odho, the Additional IGs for Karachi, CTD, and Special Branch, along with other high-ranking officers.