Islamabad, Oct 9 (IANS): Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that "hostile overseas elements" were bent on crippling life in Karachi that has seen over 200 people killed in violence in the past few weeks.

"Karachi is our life-line and we cannot tolerate conspiracy against our economic hub city," he said while addressing members of a trade body in Karachi Saturday.

"Funds amounting to Rs.5 billion for law and order" have been allocated, the minister added.

He said there was still room for efforts to further improve the situation, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

Malik said that he will visit the city every week to monitor the situation of law and order and added "there always remains a threat of suicide attack in sensitive areas including Islamabad".

He assured industrialists that a separate police force would be formed to maintain law and order in industrial zones of the country.

"Even the private security agencies could be hired in collaboration with the industrial associations to provide security to the industrial zones," he was quoted as saying.

The minister said that police arrested 87 target-killers in recent months.