The Sindh government earlier yesterday decided to beef up security of educational institutions by taking ‘concrete preventive and protective measures.’
The measures included strengthened further intelligence work, patrolling along the borders of Sindh with Punjab and Balochistan and deployment and patrolling of police and Rangers in the areas where schools are located.
This decision was taken in meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah here at the CM House, said a statement.
Those who attended the meeting were Sindh Ministers Nisar Khuhro, Jam Khan Shoro and Mola Bux Chandio, DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, Secretary to CM (U&B) Iqbal Durani, Secretary Home Syed Jamal Shah, Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput, Commissioner Karachi Asif Hyder Shah, Additional IGP Sindh Bhatti, Additional IGP Karachi Mushtaq Maher and other notables.
“We have to work out a concrete plan to protect educational institutions whether they are operating in public are private sector,”he said.
“It was the collective responsibility of the government and its concerned institutions. It was pointed out in the meeting that around 180 educational institutions have been identified as sensitive in terms of their security. Therefore, police and Rangers personnel assigned schools’ security have started coordinating with school administration.”
SOPs for the security of the schools have been framed and shared with all the public and private schools, he said.
The important points of the SOPs are installation of CCTV cameras, installation of fire extinguisher, keeping a first aid box, checking of every individual working in the schools or keeping an eye who come to pick and drop children, raising of schools’ compound wall, developing barriers on the way leading to school and coordinate with concerned police station.
DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar said that he has deployed Rangers personnel at and around 108 schools.
The incharge of the Rangers units holds meeting with school management of at least five schools to develop close coordination with them and exchange telephone and cell numbers to coordinate and contact easily.
Rangers have also started providing security to more than 60 schools located in interior areas of Sindh. The meeting also decided to deploy scouts in the schools for security and the parents may also be involved in security work.
The private schools which can afford their own security have been guided properly. New cameras have been installed around the schools and in their adjoining streets.
It was also decided to start NCC training in the schools for initial personal defence and developing confidence among the children and the teaching staff. The LEAs have also started scanning the staff working in the schools.
He added that it was decided in the Apex Committee that no new madarsa would be allowed to operate without prior permission of Home department.
The CM Sindh also directed education department to implement the SOPs framed for security of the education institution and the schools which were reluctant to implement it SoPs may be dealt legally.
Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher said that he had developed an alarm call between the school and concerned police station.
This system has been developed through a private cellular company and would start functioning from next week.
In the meeting, the CM Sindh also expressed his displeasure on the growing incidents of street crime. This means the criminals were still operating in the city and they can create problems in the security of the citizens and schools, he noted.
He urged the DG Rangers, Police and Commissioner Karachi to keep holding meetings on the security of educational institutions and keep him informed about the implementation of the decisions.
He also urged them to increase patrolling and vigilance on the border areas connecting Sindh with Punjab and Balochistan. (APP)
