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| India-Pakistan |
| Private security: no luxury |
| 2014-07-19 |
| [DAWN] IN the last three decades, law and order in Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... , as well as elsewhere in the country, has tanked. The state's writ has shrunk, leaving large segments of the population at the mercy of those propagating ethnic politics, sectarianism, organised crime and militancy. Against this backdrop, private security has become a need, not a luxury. In fact, it has emerged as a full-time industry. Since the state is too busy providing police security to VIPs at the taxpayers' expense, the latter are left with no option but to look for private security in the form of guards and related services. As of today, this industry has grown to a strength of almost 85,000 men in Sindh alone. Of this figure, roughly 75,000 private security guards are deployed just in Karachi. The government has not only abdicated its responsibility of providing security, it has also failed to regulate the private security sector. |
| Posted by:Fred |