Security measures: Take steps or face action, private schools warned

It was decided that the police and Rangers will carry out joint patrols to ensure the security of government schools

ISLAMABAD:

Following the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration has directed all public and private educational institutes to enhance their security. Private schools have also been warned of action if they failed to take concrete measures including constructing boundary walls around their buildings.

At a meeting chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Zulfiqar Haider and attended by Capital Administration and Development Division Additional Secretary Qaiser Majeed, representatives of public and private schools and police officials, all private education institutes were directed to ensure construction of eight-foot high boundary walls lined with barbed wire, place walkthrough gates, and metal detectors at the entrances, depute security guards, and verifying the identities of drivers providing pick-and-drop services, an ICT official told The Express Tribune.

The official said that a committee headed by Special Branch Assistant Inspector General Waqar Ahmed Chohan has also been formed to ensure implementation of the directives.

“The committee will check security measures and the report will be submitted to the chief commission after winter vacations in schools end,” said the official.

It was also decided that the police and Rangers will carry out joint patrols to ensure the security of government schools.

A total of 424 public and over 1,000 private schools and colleges are operating in the capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2014.