Visitors not screened completely at walkthrough gates

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ISLAMABAD: Despite increased threats of terrorist attacks and spending of Rs 32.673 million on the construction of a security wall and installation of walkthrough gates around the important police and other government offices, Islamabad Capital Territory administration has yet to ensure complete screening of visitors.
“The ICT administration, a year ago, set up a security wall and installed walkthrough gates around the offices of SSP (Operations), Chief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, district and sessions court and offices of other senior police officials in Sector F-8 costing Rs 32.673 million,” said a senior official of the ICT administration on the condition of anonymity.
He said the main purpose of the said project was to ensure security of the officials and those visiting these offices. “The objectives of the project have yet to be fulfilled as most of the visitors are entering the premises without being checked. In addition, majority of the walkthrough gates do not work, creating fear among the officials,” he said.
During a visit to the area by this scribe, it was observed that most of the walkthrough gates were unattended and visitors were entering the premises without checking. The police official said on one hand most of the walkthrough gates were not working and on the other hand high officials of ICT administration did not check the people deployed at the walkthrough gates.
“The main reason for the poor checking is that the ICT administration has deployed civil defence employees at the walkthrough gates who do not have the required capacity for this important job,” he said. Deputy Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmad, when contacted, said the administration had installed around 11 walkthrough gates whose functioning were being regularly monitored.
Strict action would be taken against the officials of civil defence found absent from duty at the walkthrough gates and also against those who do not perform their duty well, he said.