TAXILA: The security audit committee (SAC) has found only one out of hundreds of educational institutions in Taxila and Wah following the standard operating procedure (SOPs) set by the government.

After the Bacha Khan University tragedy the local administration constituted a special security audit committee (SAC) to take stock of security of all educational institutions including universities, schools and colleges located in Taxila and Wah Cantonment.

According to sources, the committee carried out security audit of 160 educational institutions and found only one educational institution’s security as per the SOPs, set by the government.

Educational institutions asked to improve security within three days

The committee directed the rest of the educational institutions especially private ones to improve their security within three days otherwise legal action would be taken against them.

The members of the committee including assistant commissioner, sub-divisional police officer, district education office, officials from special branch of police visited different educational institutions including Wah medical college, Wah engineering college, University of Wah, University of engineering and technology Taxila, Heavy Industries Taxila Education City, Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Wah, schools run by Federal Government Educational Institutions ( Cantt/ Garrisons), schools run by Punjab government as well as private educational institutions and discussed security measures with the heads.

“The committee will carry out another audit next week,” said deputy district education officer Abdul Khaliq, the member of the committee while talking to the journalists. “The district administration and police have formulated a foolproof security strategy for the private, government and missionary educational institutions,” he said.

Heads of all educational institutions including schools and universities have been asked to acquire certificate after completing all security arrangements.

He said if the school administration failed to adopt foolproof security measures, their premises would be sealed.

According to the SOPs, instructions have been issued to the educational institutions to raise the height of the boundary walls of the educational institutions and install barbed wires on them.

They have also been asked to keep only one entrance and exit point to avoid entry of unauthorised persons.

Qamar Zeeshan, the tehsil municipal officer (TMO), who is heading a team, said a detailed security audit of educational institutions had been conducted and security deficiencies were conveyed to their managements.

He said the heads of the educational institutions had been given a deadline to overcome the shortfalls otherwise their schools would not be allowed to operate.

He said that the government had already communicated the SOPs to the educational institutions to ensure foolproof security and if anybody failed to do so then they will be proceeded against under the law and such educational institutions would be sealed.

He said that the team members had been provided android sets through which they could record the security measures and send them to higher authorities.

He said that these educational institutions would be revisited after Monday and those educational institutions who do not follow the SOPs and instructions would be dealt with as per law.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2016