Lahore: Punjab police are very much in need of equip themselves with modern drone technology and armored personnel operators (APCs) to launch effective ground operations in unaccessible grain areas, while Sindh Police Department is more equipped to master the network of stubborn criminals operating from difficult areas.
In terms of resources, Sindh police have a clear advantage in the resources of Punjab police fighting stubborn criminals running along the Indus River, marked by forests, bushes and rugged terrain.
Although the CATA region has expanded to many areas in central and southern Sindh, areas such as Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikarpur and Jacobad are known for their high popularity of crimes such as Dacoity, kidnapping and clash of clans.
On the other hand, in the Kacha area of Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan, on the other hand, were kidnapped, murdered and other outrageous crimes.
Despite many actions by law enforcement agencies (LEAS), such criminals can never be completely eliminated, mainly because most of the Cata area are difficult to access Leas.
Sindh police are using drones equipped with thermal cameras, sensors and can provide payloads
He said the Dacoits gangs in these areas were equipped with heavy and sophisticated weapons, including mortars, rocket grenades (RPGs), and even favors against aviation, which were used to target police and other rentals. He added that in many cases in the past, these weapons have even been used to blow up armored vehicles.
He said that given this situation, Punjab police clamored for a strong sense that drone technology and APC could play an effective role in fighting tough criminals and terrorists who are “inaccessible” in various banned clothing residues.
He said recently, the Punjab government approved the provision of four new APCs to Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur Police to launch operations against tough criminals, while terrorists infiltrate the Cata area from Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkun.
He said that at present, the police in Xinghan and Rajapur each have five APCs, which are insufficient, and the scale of crime and terrorist activities in the CATA area was observed.
Among these vehicles, each area has three “tracking APCs” for off-road movement in the CATA area, while the others are “Wheeled APCs”.
On the other hand, in Sindh, Kashmore and Shikarpur district police each have 18 modern APCs, most of which are tracked for deployment in the CATA area of the province.
On one issue, the official said tracking vehicles is more effective in rough areas with rough terrain.
“The modern tracked APC can work well on tough terrain such as dirt, sand and uneven ground where wheeled vehicles can get stuck,” the official said.
In the past, when an APC of the Punjab police was trapped in the mud in the CATA area, the Punjab police encountered a painful experience, providing criminals with the opportunity to strike and cause serious loss of life due to force.
Regarding drone technology, the official said Sindh police are using drones to make explosive payments to criminals, announcing a big shift in safety paradigm due to technological changes in surveillance and operational modes.
He said Sindh police are using modern drones carrying explosives for search and rescue missions. He added that the drones used by Sindh police are also equipped with thermal cameras and high-resolution light sensors, and they are also used to fire small mortars to hit the hiding places of criminals who cannot reach the CATA area.
At the same time, Punjab police only used drones for surveillance, he said.
The official said Punjab police avoided deep into inaccessible areas due to lack of the latest technology. However, police have managed to develop infrastructure to set up posts and checkpoints in such areas.
He said police are also building indexes to improve access and mobility in the challenging terrain in the CATA area.
Building such infrastructure is part of a broader strategy for large-scale operations supported by the provincial government to eliminate CATA areas of stubborn criminals and terrorists.
Posted in Dawn on September 26, 2025
