THERE have been news reports about bank robberies and safe deposit lockers being looted almost on a daily basis. It is strange that banks and the governing institution, State Bank of Pakistan, do not take notice of the issue.

The banks’ security must be foolproof and should be taken seriously. The bankers should understand and devise various options to tackle the problem. It is important to note that billions of rupees in banks do not belong to them.

The money is put by the public, trusting the banks. How could they be so careless and why don’t they make any serious effort to devise ways to curb the menace!

The security system is faulty. An institutional security system should be adopted by all banks. A system for recruitment of special guards should be put in place. No private security agency should be hired because such agencies have miserably failed.

The guards should be employed after thorough screening of their background. A minimum salary of a security a guard should not be less than Rs20,000 a month.

Daily duty should be of eight hours and the weekly holiday of two days as given to all other bank employees. Even the eight-hour duty should not be continuous and there should be a break for one hour after every three hours, while duty meals should be served to guards during the break. Medical service should also be provided to them and their family members, besides adequate insurance. Guards’ physical and mental condition should be thoroughly checked after every three months.

These are basic things. Experts may give their opinion on these points and suggest thorough mechanism for operation to adopt.

Everybody knows how banks squander public money for unnecessary media and commercial promotion. If banks curtail other unnecessary expenses, the above-mentioned suggestions can be managed. The SBP must regulate the system of safety and security.

Abdul Qader Dadabhoy

Karachi