The Punjab government on Wednesday has announced to grant security clearance to the educational institutions in the province in three phases.
Provincial governments have ordered the schools to beef up security arrangements across the country after the brutal Peshawar terror attack.
The government officials have directed the school administration to raise the boundary walls up to 8 feet, appoint experienced security guards at entry points and install security cameras.
The Punjab government has notified the educational institutions that they would get security clearance in three phases. Only those institutions which fully implement the security guidelines till January 9 will be allowed to open on January 12.
The time span of two and a half months will be given for second phase whereas institutions have already been directed to follow a complete security plan for the clearance of third phase.
The government has also warned to close any institution which fails to comply with the guidelines.
Furthermore, Punjab Interior Minister Shuja Khanzada said that fool proof security would be ensured in all the schools in the province until January 11 while the schools having inadequate security arrangements are ongoing would not be allowed to function.
A meeting was held with Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif in the chair to review the security measures adopted for fool proof security of the educational institutions.
The meeting was told that the security arrangements in at least 50 percent to 60 percent schools of the province have been completed. However, there are some government schools which still need their walls to be raised higher while talks with the administration of the private schools are ongoing.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Khanzada said that the schools have been divided into three different categories for efficient security measures against terror attacks. He said that as many as five security agencies collectively are inspecting the security arrangements of the schools. Moreover, a special force has also been formed to tackle the menace of terrorism, he added.
Khanzada said that the protection of the educational institutions is the government’s priority whereas the schools lacking security arrangements would not be allowed to open.
The government’s spokesperson urged the institutions to get No Objection Certificates (NOCs) after having their security measures reviewed by the inspection teams as any school without the NOC would not be allowed to open on January 12.