CHAKWAL: The Government Postgraduate College Chakwal (GPGCC), which had remained closed since December 16, 2014, finally opened on Monday, without adequate security arrangements.

The college was put in security category A due to its sensitivity. Over 2,500 students study at this coeducational institution.

Following the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, which left 140 dead, the Punjab Government directed educational institutions to take certain security measures.

Among these was raising boundary walls to above eight feet, having one entrance point, installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and walkthrough gates.

Large gaps have been left in the under construction boundary wall of the college

However, the boundary wall of GPGCC is still under construction and gaps have been left in the boundary wall at ten points.

Two men pass through the gap left in the under construction boundary wall of the college.— Photos by the writer

These gaps, which have been purposely left by construction workers building the college wall, are also routinely used by the general public walking from Rawalpindi Road to Thaneel Road. No guards have been deployed at these points.

“We are very worried about the security situation. Anyone can enter the college through these gaps,” said a faculty member, requesting anonymity.

Most public sector educational institutions in Chakwal opened on January 12 but it was decided to keep GPGCC closed until its boundary wall is reconstructed.

However, Rs12 million required to construct the wall could not be released in time, delaying the construction.

“We were told by the building department that the work would be completed by January 25 so we decided to open the college on January 26,” Professor Aziz Ahmed Minhas, College Security Committee in-charge told Dawn.

He said the wall could not be completed by January 25, but since students had already returned, the college was opened anyway.

“Not having classes for any more days would have affected studies at the college,” he said.

He said the district administration was requested to depute security personnel at these gaps but had failed to do so.

Meanwhile, another sensitive college, Government Cadet College, Choa Saidan Shah was opened without a proper boundary wall.

The college which is located in the hilly areas of Salt Range has a six-feet-high wall which could not be raised due to the nature of its construction.

A large sum of money is needed to secure the vast campus of the college.

“The funds for Cadet College Choa Saidan Shah will be released soon,” Professor Nasir Mehmood Awan said.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2015

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