LAHORE: A high-level meeting was held at the Punjab Home Department to review security arrangements for educational institutions across the province.
The session was jointly chaired by Khawaja Salman Rafique, provincial health minister and chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, and Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat. Senior officials briefed the participants, including Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi, School Education Secretary Khalid Nazir Wattoo, Higher Education Secretary Farid Ahmad, and Emergency Services Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer. The briefing covered the current security status of schools, colleges and universities, as well as steps being taken to implement safety protocols.
Khawaja Salman Rafique announced the launch of a School Safety Campaign along with a province-wide security audit of all educational institutions. He said the School Education Department had been directed to ensure compliance with security SOPs, including boundary walls, guards’ training, and installation of technical equipment. He added that the installation of panic buttons in institutions would be ensured, as providing students with a safe and peaceful educational environment was a top government priority.
Rana Sikandar Hayat stated that mapping of all educational institutions in Punjab had been completed. He said instructions had been issued to identify emergency numbers and focal persons in every institution. The chief minister of Punjab has already directed all educational institutions to undergo a security audit, and the government is taking all possible steps to implement security SOPs.
Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi said mock exercises were underway in educational institutions across the province. He directed law-enforcement agencies to take all necessary measures, in coordination with the administration, to further improve security in schools and colleges.
The meeting was also attended by Special Secretary Operations (Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education) Nabeela Irfan, Special Secretary Home Fazal-ur-Rehman, Special Secretary Industries, Additional Secretary Ayesha Mumtaz, Additional Secretary Internal Security, additional IG CTD and additional IG Special Branch.
