Schools won’t reopen till they complete security arrangements, says home minister

Khanzada orders pickets on roads leading to schools

LAHORE: Schools will not be allowed to reopen till all school administrations implement the 20-point security guidelines issued by the provincial government, Home Minister Col (retd) Shuja Khanzada said on Monday.

He was briefing divisional commissioners during a video conference at the Civil Secretariat on Monday. The minister directed the commissioners and regional police officers to ensure security arrangements at educational institutions and the implementation of the 20 points issued in this regard. He said the arrangements will be checked by District Security Audit Committees.

Adviser to Chief Minister Rana Maqbool Ahmed, the additional chief secretary, Home Secretary Major (retd) Azam Suleman, Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal, the higher education secretary, the schools secretary, the Special Branch additional IG, the Intelligence Bureau director and the Lahore DCO were also present on the occasion.

Khanzada said security arrangements will be ensured at every cost throughout the Punjab and indiscriminate action will be taken against those found negligent. He said all schools were required to install walkthrough security gates, metal detectors, surveillance cameras and eight-foot high boundary walls with two-feet of barbed wire.

Khanzada was told that officials were delivering lectures on security arrangements at educational institutions in all divisions. Teachers were being trained on how to evacuate children during an emergency situation. The commissioners said that officials of Special Branch and Elite Force were also training security staff on the use of metal detectors and walkthrough gates.

Khanzada said that funds had been released to all government schools and colleges and the institutions which had not received funds so far, should ensure security arrangements using funds from the district government and school council.

Khanzada ordered pickets at roads leading to educational institutions and issued instructions for arrangements for rescue services to reach a site of emergency in five to ten minutes. He said the Special Branch would conduct checks and verification of people employed at canteens at schools and colleges.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2015.