Minister orders tight security for campuses

LAHORE

Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood has said the training of security guards deputed at universities and colleges should be ensured and CCTV cameras of night vision should be installed in these institutions. 

Addressing a meeting of Vice Chancellors (VCs) with regard to security of public and private universities at Government College University (GCU) on Monday, the minister said the SOPs of 2014 regarding security of educational institutions should be implemented strictly. He warned that no laxity or negligence will be tolerated in this regard.

Rana Mashhood said besides training, weapons provided to security guards deputed at universities should be in working condition. He said special attention should be paid to the security of university hostels and the entry and stay of non-student elements in the hostels should be watched strictly. He added boundary walls of universities and colleges should be raised according to the prescribed SOP and effective security system should be evolved by fixing barbed wires on it. He said search light arrangements should also be made during night in educational institutions. He said principle of using one gate for entry and exit in the institutions should be implemented.

Rana Mashhood directed the officials of Special Branch should keep a vigilant eye on the workers working in the canteens of educational institutions, their premises and surroundings. He said transparency should be ensured in the expenses being incurred on ensuring security arrangements in colleges and universities.  The minister was told that Home Department has divided colleges to A+ and A category with regard to security arrangements in Punjab and the security arrangements were being made in the light of these categories. Secretary Higher Education Irfan Ali attended the meeting.