Karachi's ranking improves drastically on World Crime Index

With continued efforts of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) over the years, Karachi's ranking on the World Crime Index has improved drastically taking it to 70th position from 6th in 2014.

Targeted killings, shootings, muggings and other crimes became a routine occurrence in the megapolis since violence and unrest gripped the city in early 1990s.

For more than two decades, 2000-2500 lost their lives to violence in Karachi every year.

However, the civilian and military leadership decided to launch a crackdown on terrorists and miscreants in the megapolis, granting special policing powers to paramilitary Rangers.

In 2014, the city ranked 6th on the World Crime Index. On the whole, 1888 people were killed the same year, including 117 officers and personnel of law enforcement agencies.

The city stood at 68th on the index in December 2018, improving further to 70th position this year.

In 2018, 395 people were killed in the city, including 10 policemen. So far, 153 people have lost their lives, including seven policemen, in first four months of 2019.

In 2014, the attacks on security forces claimed lives of 15 personnel, compared to the killing of one security man in 2018.

According to Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), 184 people were killed for offering resistance during muggings and robberies in 2014, 61 in 2018 and 15 this year so far.

Targeted killings in the city claimed 698 lives in 2014, nine in 2018 and 12 so far in this year.

Meanwhile, Major General Asif Ghafoor, director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said that Karachi today stood at 70th [on the index] with many first world cities behind.

He credited the team of civil administration and security forces, especially intelligence agencies, police and Sindh Rangers for the achievement.

The DG ISPR also appreciated the citizens of Karachi for their help in bringing crime down in the megapolis.