THE Special Security Unit of Sindh Police has started a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) programme. The objective of this programme is to create awareness among the public, particularly teachers and students, about the measures they need to adopt to keep themselves safe, develop confidence and the capabilities on how avoid risk in case of any emergency situation that arises in case there is an attack by terrorists.

As a former police officer I would like to point out that these measures need to be complemented with a comprehensive plan to educate/apprise the public, teachers, students, employees of government and private organisations on how they can protect themselves and counter a hostile situation arising from a terrorists’ attack.

The Civil Defence Department be re-activated and entrusted with the training of civilians on how to react in case of a terrorist attack. The scouts movement should also be utilised to train youth on handling emergencies. The National Cadet Course should restart training in colleges and also at the school level to prepare our youth on holding off the militants till the law enforcers reach to their rescue.

S.M. Iqbal

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2016