RAWALPINDI: Security has been stepped up over complaints of security lapses and non-availability of basic necessities to the personnel of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) deployed at the Karote power project, Kahuta.

A senior security official, after observing security lapses at Azad Pattan Bridge and complaints of unavailability of drinking water for the SPU personnel, had informed DIG SPU Omer Sheikh, the deputy commi­ssioner and city police officer Rawalpindi that the project management was providing clean drinking water to only one section of security officials, while the SPU personnel were deprived of basic necessity.

“SPU personnel are demoralised due to it,” the senior official said, adding that the same problem being faced by the SPU personnel was brought to the notice of the officials concerned in April, but the problem remained unsolved.

He also pointed out security lapses at the Azad Pattan Bridge project as no security cameras had been installed to cover three areas of the project and there was a dire need to install more CCTV cameras.

It was also observed that the safe room of engineers was too small, which needed to be improved as per SOP.

When contacted, SPU Director/Dep­uty Inspector General of Police Umer Sheikh told Dawn that there were two projects (camps) — one at Karote Kahuta and the other at Azad Pattan — where the SPU personnel had been deployed for the security of foreign nationals working there.

He said he had been closely monitoring the security and other issues and taking all possible measures to maintain security and ensure availability of basic necessities, including drinking water, for the SPU personnel.

However, he said, sometimes water filtration plants or security enables developed faults which were immediately removed by the company concerned. “We shall address the problem of drinking water and CCTV cameras, if there is any,” the DIG said.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2020