The ‘grand operation’ will use night vision drone cameras, Ababeel drone missiles and long-range snipers.

An initial flight of the Ababeel drone has already been conducted. The police will also acquire 40 night vision drone cameras, 30 Ababeel drones, 30 sniper rifles and 50 long-range snipers for the operation.

Over 300,000 sniper bullets and 300 thermal, night vision, sniper and spotter telescopes will also be purchased.

For ground support, 10 armoured vehicles, armed with machine guns and command and control systems will be part of the operation.

Dacoits have been a continuous problem in areas of lower Punjab and upper Sindh, particularly along the banks of the Indus river. A clash with dacoits killed atleaset five policemen in November this year, including a DSP and two SHOs. The incident even echoed on the floor of the assembly, where the opposition criticised the PPP-led Sindh government for its inability to put an end to the issue.

In response, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah acknowledged that there was trouble but the situation has ‘improved a lot’ since 2007.