Deployment of law enforcers around schools increased

SOP framed and issued to schools to beef up security

Karachi

The Sindh government decided on Friday to beef up security of educational institutions by taking concrete measures which include strengthening intelligence work, increasing patrolling along the province’s borders with Punjab and Balochistan, and deployment and patrolling of police and Rangers in the areas where schools were located.

Presiding over a meeting, a third one held to discuss the security of education institutions, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said a concrete plan needed to protect educational institutions whether they were in the public sector or private.

It was pointed out at the meeting that around 180 educational institutions had been identified as sensitive in terms of their security. Therefore, police and Rangers personnel assigned security of education institutions had started coordinating with school administrations.

A standard operating procedures for the security the schools has been framed and shared with all public and private schools. The important points of the SOP are installation of CCTV cameras and fire extinguishers, keeping a first aid box, checking every individual working in the school, keeping an eye on the people coming to pick and drop children, increasing the height of schools’ compound wall, developing barriers on the way leading to schools and coordinating with police stations.  

Sindh Rangers Director-General Major Gen Bilal Akbar said he had deployed paramilitary personnel at and around 108 schools. The in-charge of the Rangers units had held meetings with the managements of at least five schools to develop close coordination with them and exchange phone numbers.

Rangers have also started providing security to over 60 schools in the interior areas of the province.

The meeting also decided to deploy scouts at schools and involve parents for more security.

Private schools which can afford their own security have been guided properly.

New cameras have been installed around schools and at their adjoining streets. Law-enforcement agencies personnel in civvies have also been deployed around schools.

It was also decided to start NCC training in schools for initial personal defence and developing confidence among children and teaching staff. 

The proposal to activate the Police Qaumi Razakar and Civil Defence volunteers for the security of educational institutions was also discussed.

The chief minister pointed out that he had received some reports that madrasas were being constructed in the Tharparkar by outsiders under the guise of charity and social work and students from other areas of the country were being brought there.

He added that this could not be allowed and directed the law-enforcement agencies to keep an eye on these madrasas and submit to him a report on the issue.

He added that it was decided by apex committee that no new religious seminaries would be allowed to operate without the prior permission of the home department.

Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher said that he had developed an alarm system between the school and police stations and it would start functioning from next week. 

In the meeting the chief minister also expressed his displeasure on the growing incidents of street crime in Karachi.

Those who attended the meeting included provincial ministers Nisar Khuhro and Jam Khan Shoro, adviser Maula Bux Chandio, Home Secretary Syed Jamal Shah, Finance Secretary Sohail Rajput, and Karachi Commissioner Asif Hyder Shah.