ISLAMABAD: Deputy Inspector General (operations) Waqaruddin Syed on Monday ordered a security audit of hotels, especially five-star ones, in the capital in the wake of the terrorist attack on Pearl Continental (PC) in Gwadar, police said on Monday.

The audit is aimed at identifying loopholes and improving security of the hotels.

Besides, the security audit will also help the police prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the security of hotels where foreigners stay during their visit to Islamabad.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the DIG operations and attended by police and administrative officials of known hotels in Islamabad.

The DIG asked the officials concerned to conduct the audit and submit a report as soon as possible.

DIG operations asks hotels’ managements to appoint focal persons to coordinate with police

He said hotel managements should remain in contact with police officers, including SP, SDPOs and SHOs, of their area and hire security guards from reputed companies.

The security guards should be given proper training about the use of weapons while CCTV cameras should be installed on the hotel premises and their recording maintained.

The security staff should also be trained in handling metal detectors and deployed at the entry points of hotels.

The DIG said staff having good health should be assigned security-related duties and deputed at proper points from where they could take action in case of any untoward situation.

The DIG also asked the hotel management officials to appoint focal persons who would remain in contact with the police for effective coordination.

He directed all police officials to ensure effective patrolling in their respective areas and conduct checking of hotels and inns. They were also asked to regularly collect data about visitors staying in hotels and maintain vigilance of the suspects.

The hotel managements were asked to inform the police if they observed any suspected activity around them.

The DIG operations assured the hotels that their problems would be resolved.

Meanwhile, crime as well as law and order situation in the city was reviewed at another meeting. Police officials were asked to take effective measures to curb crime.

They were also asked to enhance efforts in those areas where crime rate was comparatively high and conduct search operations there.

The supervising officers were asked to have Sehri and Iftari with officials performing duties at pickets and brief them about effective security steps.

Most of the criminals use motorcycles to commit criminal activities so bikes found without documents should be impounded, the officials were told.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2019