KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday approved Rs8 million for setting up an explosives laboratory to be run by the Sindh police at a suitable place in the city.

Mr Shah chaired a high-level meeting here at the CM House to review the pace of implementation of the decisions taken two months back by the Sindh apex committee, including setting up of new antiterrorism courts,anti-riot units and introduction of new number plates with security features.

Adviser to CM on Law Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Inspector General of Police A. D. Khowaja, Home Secretary Shakil Mangnijo, Additional IG Counter Terrorism Department Sanaullah Abbasi, Karachi police chief Mushtaq Mahar, Commissioner Aijaz Khan, Advocate General Zameer Ghumro, Prosecutor General Shahadat Awan and other senior officials attended the meeting.

IGP Khowaja informed the chief ministerthat his department was looking for a piece of land in a secure neighbourhood to establish a much-needed forensic lab.

However, he said, an explosives lab could be set up as early as possible if the government approved a grant of Rs8m. The CM immediately approved the amount and directed the police chief to move ahead with his plan.

Mr Shah was also briefed by the IGP and CTD head Abbasi on the progress of the Nazimabad majlis attack in which five people were killed.

The meeting was told that the incident wasbeing investigated with dif ferent angles and some suspects had been taken into custody for questioning.

The CM directed the police chief to coordinate with other intelligence agencies to solve the terrorism incident at the earliest. `It is a fourth incident and cannot be ignored,` he said.

Reviewing the decision of the apex committee meeting held on Aug31 about issuance of no-objection certificates to welfare organisations to collect hides on Eidul-Azha on the condition that they would get their account audited, the chief minister asked the commissioner, who had issued 687 such NOCs to charities, to get their accounts audited and furnish a report to him.

The chief secretary told the meeting that six buildings had been ready at the Karachi central prison to house various courts.

The IGP also told the meeting that a force of 600 policemen, to be knownas jail police, had been created to escort undertrial prisoners from jail to ATC Complex in Clifton.

The CM said it was quite risky and sensitive to bring UTPs from jail to ATC Complex in Clifton. `I would suggest you to shift six ATCs from Clif ton to the newly constructed courts at the central jail for security reasons.

He directed the chief secretary to get ready 14 other court buildings in next three months for setting up more antiterrorism courts.

The IGP also informed the chief minister that a force comprising 1,100personnel had been raised for the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, while recruitment for remaining 900 more personnel was in progress.

About the decision of the apex committee with regard to setting up of an anti-riot unit, IG Khowaja said that he had initially raised two anti-riot units one in Karachi`s South zone of police and the other in Hyderabad.

Home Secretary Mangnijo said that he was working on the establishment of anti-riot units in every divisional headquarters.The chief minister directed the two of ficials to establish one more unit for Karachi.

The chief secretary said that he had issued necessary directives to all the commissioners to monitor purchase and sell of the material available in market and could be used in making explosives.

CM Shah stressed the need for expediting implementation on the apex committee`s decision regarding introduction of new number plates with security features, including a tracking system in all kind of vehicles and motorbikes.