950815

Karachi police

communications to

be modernized

TANVIR ZAHID

LAHORE: Karachi Police Command, Control and Communication System is to be modernized and updated to suit the present day requirements at an estimated cost of Rs 1,058.178 million including foreign exchange component of Rs 910.944 million.

The project, which was considered first by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) towards end of June and then by Special CDWP on July 17 and approved in principle and subsequently by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) and also okayed in principle, thus clearing the two major stages in less than two months, provides for the replacement of the communication system of Sindh Police which was set up in early 1950s and since then it had outlived its utility.

The project cost estimates without custom duties and taxes were based on single sour -- Messrs Alcatel of France -- estimates without systems design and specification, inadequate justification and lumpsum costs and it was still approved in principle at all fora in a hush hush manner in view of urgency of matter and particularly because Sindh Government had already placed orders for the equipment etc. in anticipation of the approval by the quarters concerned in Islamabad.

According to the information available from well informed sources in Islamabad to Business Recorder in Lahore on Tuesday, the system comprises electronic equipment, cables, computers and software complete with engineering, services, commissioning and installation.

According to the sponsoring agency, the sources pointed out, the proposed system is based on study of Paris Police Commmand, Control and Communication system and is aimed at providing electronic equipment with benefits of Voice and Data Communication between deployed strenght/force on duty; automated vehicles of emergency calls from citizens; monitoring of all events occurring in the city, and remote surveillance of places of specific interest.

The Sindh Government expected that on completion, the project will help law enforcing agencies to maintain effective, decentralized and easily accessible administration; strong, responsible and effective instrument of power of low enforcement, and; capability to deal with the acts of terrorism, sabotage and violence.

By approving the project in principle, the Ecnec authorised the Sindh Government to proceed accordingly and execute the project after ensuring the viability of technical proposals and competitiveness of prices through a professional review by some independent consultants.

It was also noted at the time of project consideration by Special CDWP that it was not known if Messrs Alcatel of France, primarily equipment suppliers, had been directly responsible for operating a command and control system for police management and surveillance.