IGP wants training school established for private security guards

The Sindh inspector general of police (IGP), Ghulam Nabi Memon, on Tuesday presided over a meeting on the training of guards of private security companies at the Central Police Office Karachi.

Officials said the meeting was attended by police high-ups, All Pakistan Security Agencies Chairman Major (retd) Munir Ahmed and representatives of the Sindh home department. The Security and Emergency Services Division DIG gave a briefing to the meeting that included information about the Sindh Private Security Agencies (Regulation and Control) Ordinance 2000 and the current number and situation of private security companies.

The All Pakistan Security Agencies chairman informed the meeting that the security companies wanted quality training of private guards in collaboration with the Sindh government and police, and regulation of security services under the law.

The IGP directed the Police Security and ESD DIG to assign responsibilities related to ensuring implementation of existing laws about security companies. He also ordered the formation of a committee to be headed by the investigation DIG comprising legal AIG and Saeedabad Police Training College principal stating that the committee should investigate the existing laws, standard operating procedures and ordinances related to security companies and send comprehensive suggestions for review and necessary steps.

IGP Memon said there was an urgent need to establish a special training school to improve the training and quality of private security guards keeping in view the requirements of the current times and the best practices of the world.

The committee would also give suggestions on land allotment for the training school. Later, the IGP chaired a review meeting on reforms in women and child protection centres of the provincial police.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Human Rights Commission Chairperson Iqbal Dethu, DIGs of establishment, headquarters, investigations and training, Sindh Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed, Deputy Prosecutor General Fahim Hussain, Deputy Secretary Home Department Fatima Saima Ahmed, Social Leader Advocate Rubina Brohi, Police Training College Razzaqabad principal police works, superintendent engineer, AIGs of state management, admin and HR, and other police officers.

The HR AIG briefed the participants about the 40 women and child protection centres established in the province. He said the women protection centres of the Sindh police were going to be converted into One Stop Protection Centres where all the help would be provided to

the affected women under one roof.

“We are completely changing the culture and environment of police stations and making them people-friendly,” the IGP said, adding that by reducing the number of police stations, they were trying to improve their functioning and financial condition.

He said the best and most experienced women should be deployed at the women protection centres. He added that women personnel deployed at the women protection centres should be given rewards.

He said a report should be prepared regarding the appointment and facilities of women employees at those centres. The Sindh police chief issued directives to form a committee comprising the DIGS of investigations and training, and HR and legal AIGs in order to review the existing laws related to women's rights, and training and financial resources of the staff of the protection centres and submit its recommendations.