PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhawa government will spend Rs7 billion on schools' security in the wake of threat following the Peshawar carnage on December 16, 2014, which left more than 150 people dead — mostly children.

Provincial Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani said Rs1 billion have already been released and the remaining amount would be released soon.

He was speaking at a discussion on education organised by Mishal Pakistan in Peshawar.

Ghani said there are 55,000 schools and institutions across the province which would be needing appropriate security measures.

In order to protect the schools, the provincial government would ensure the involvement of local communities in the process and would also start community policing in the area, he said.

Government schools have been given arms licenses for the protection of students, the information minister said, adding that schools have also been asked to hire retired army officials for security.