Daily Times

LAHORE: City police have been directed to beef up security arrangements at schools and other educational institutions in the provincial metropolis. The directive was issued in view of intelligence reports.

Meanwhile, private schools have also been asked to ensure that standard operating procedures on security are fulfilled. Schools’ administrations have said that the financial burden for additional security measures under the SOPs will have to be passed on parents.

On Thursday, Operations DIG Haider Ashraf issued an order to all the divisional SPs to tighten security at all schools, colleges, other education institutions as well as important places to avoid any untoward incident. The divisional SPs, DSPs, and SHOs were asked to visit the administration at schools, colleges, and universities to ensure foolproof security.

In his directives, Ashraf has said that entry and exit points at educational institutes should be kept at a minimum and permanent security should be ensured at these points for snap checking of those going in and out. He has asked that the height of all walls at educational institutes should be raised and parking facility should be maintained at a safe distance from the main premises.

He has also asked for installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at all educational institutes so that their surroundings could be watched around the clock.

Ashraf ordered the SP security to maintain coordination among the Divisional SPs and asked SP Mobiles to check patrolling during school timings.

The Operations DIG said that police were also providing security to more than 6,000 schools across the city. He said 326 schools had been declared in A-plus category, over 2,000 in B category and the rest in C category.

Speaking to Daily Times, the administration of different private schools stated that it was difficult to follow the security guidelines without reviewing fees charged to students. The additional financial burden for security will need to taken care of by someone, they said.

Published in Daily Times, August 18^th 2017.