What option do you have when you are asked to install a proper and comprehensive security apparatus in order to hold an event? The event may be an exhibition, a cultural show, a political gathering, a religious ceremony or even a wedding function to be attended by VIPs.
Though security clearance by concerned departments has always been a prerequisite in this regard, the organisers of public events have never been made to comply with as much conditions as they have to now.
The installation of walkthru gates and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and deployment of private security guards to keep an eye on suspicious activities are just two of these.
While the government and private offices, hotels, restaurants, schools and colleges, cinemas, commercial buildings etc can afford to buy this equipment for their premises, the organisers of one-time events at different venues cannot. They do not need security gates on every occasion as the demands vary from client to client and the nature of the activity.
Ali Amjad, an employee of an event management company, was also bombarded with requests from a client to install a walkthru gate at the entrance of the venue of his event. The client also wanted CCTV cameras to be installed on all the sides to ensure that nobody entered the venue unnoticed.
He discussed the issue with a friend who worked with a high-end event management company and found the solution. Amjad’s friend connected him with a company that supplied security equipment on rent.
They reached an agreement and shared the quotes with the client who agreed to pay the cost after some negotiations.
It may surprise many that the business of renting out security equipment, security personals and even weapons is flourishing like anything. The purpose obviously is to make private and public places secure but there are fears as well that this trade is not being monitored properly.
Mirza Kashif, President, All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF), says that the recent instructions the private schools received from police authorities do not talk about walkthru gates. However, these are needed at the time of result announcement or funfairs so schools hire them from the market as per their need.
He says he wanted to buy a walkthru gate for his school after the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar tragedy but could not as the rates had skyrocketed overnight.
A walkthru of Chinese make which would cost Rs1.5 million a few months ago was available for around Rs0.5 million. The reason, he says, was that the demand had surged but the supplies were limited.
Ideally, the government should have ensured the supply but it left things at the disposal of market forces.
According to Kashif, no doubt the availability of security equipment on rent is a good option for people but this should not be the case with guns.
Explaining his point, he says, some private security companies are providing guns to clients on rent which are carried by gardeners, office boys, peons etc employed by the latter. These people are shown as retainers of these weapons in the documents available with these companies.
One reason for this trend, Kashif says, is that a trained security guard is not available for less than Rs25,000 per month. The cost of hiring a sniper can be between Rs50,000 and Rs100,000. So, he says, the schools prefer to give guns and uniforms to their existing employees and present them as security guards to inspecting police teams.
Ahmed Hassan, a representative of a security equipment rental company, says that they provide walkthru gates on rent which may cost Rs500 to Rs 1,000 per hour depending on the quality of the equipment. Besides, the clients have to pay security fee, installation fee, transportation charges and wages of the trained operators of these gates. The rental is charged for the time when the gate leaves the office premises and returns.
Asif Alam, proprietor of Paragon Events, an event management company, says the security equipment is also required at marquees set up for holding high-end events. There are clients who avoid holding events in congested place and opt for open spaces but do not compromise on security.
Muhammad Farooq from Electronic Doctors, a Lahore-based security company, refutes Kashif’s claim, stating that the prices of security equipment are very much in control.
He says the security gates are available for as low a price as Rs1,50,000 but the problem is that there are no stocks left in Lahore. The gates have to be brought from Karachi which gives an impression that they are short in the market.
The price of security gates depends on their distinct features. There are gates whose sensitivity is adjustable on a scale of 0 to99. When set at the highest level, these can even detect a pin and when at low level they can detect big articles such as knives, guns and those made from copper, aluminum and zinc. There is an option to make the machine ignore metals in belt buttons and shoes.
Babar Ali, a DSP in the security wing of Punjab Police, says the department hires walkthru gates from approved suppliers on different occasions and gets funds from the government to pay the rent.
Dozens of gates were hired for the recently held Horse and Cattle Show and the rents would be paid from the funds provided by the Punjab government for security departments.
He says that officers at police station level have to arrange security paraphernalia on occasions such as Muharram processions, Eid prayers, urs of Sufi saints and so on. The department has many security gates installed at different premises which cannot be removed. So, it goes for those available on rent.