Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood has said that the training of security guards deputed at universities and colleges should be ensured and CCTV cameras should be installed in these institutions.
He said that the SOPs of 2014 regarding security of educational institutions should be implemented strictly. He warned that no laxity or negligence will be tolerated in this regard.
He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of Vice Chancellors with regard to security of all public and private universities at Government College University on Monday.
Secretary Higher Education Irfan Ali also attended the meeting.
He said that besides training, the weapons provided to security guards deputed at universities should be in working condition. He said that special attention should be paid to the security of university hostels and the entry and stay of non-student elements in the hostels should be watched strictly. The minister said that the boundary walls of universities and colleges should be raised according to the prescribed SOP and effective security system should be evolved by fixing barbed wires on it. He said that search light arrangements should also be made during night in educational institutions. He said that the principle of using one gate for entry and exit in the institutions should be implemented.
Mashhood directed that the officials of Special Branch should keep a vigilant eye on the workers working in the canteens of educational institutions, their premises and surroundings. He said the transparency should be ensured in the expenses being incurred on ensuring security arrangements in colleges and universities. The minister was told that Home Department has divided colleges to A+ and A category with regard to security arrangements in Punjab and the security arrangements are being made in the light of these categories. Mashhood said that the male and female students are our future and precious asset. He said that all-out resources will be utilised for the protection of these children.