March 15, 2007	Thursday	Safar 25, 1428

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PESHAWAR, March 14: The administration of the Islamia College has decided to ‘fortify’ the historic institution by building four big gates around the college building. The project is going to cost about Rs800,000. The college already has a nine-foot-high boundary wall.

The administration has also erected barbed wire at various places on the campus. Main gates of the college and its hostels are manned by watchmen to restrict the entry of outsiders.

The historic institution has its own internal security force and an additional police force has been provided to it.

Citing reasons for the construction of the gates, the college’s works director Mohammad Kafil told Dawn that the plan had been initiated to keep outsiders at bay and to guard students against “falling into the hands of anti-social elements”.

He said the college’s board of directors had approved the plan. The institution would become more secure after the construction of gates.

Other institutions situated on the Peshawar University campus — including the NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, Islamia Collegiate School and the Agriculture University — also have huge gates despite the round-the-clock presence of police.

However, some faculty members have opposed the plan, saying such measures will have a negative impact on the personality of students. The erection of the gates will give “garrison-like” look to the institution.