Shahbaz Sharif reviews arrangements for the security of the schools

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that protection of students and teachers of private and public sector universities is the collective responsibility which will be discharged efficiently. He said that Punjab government is spending billions of rupees on the promotion of education and the security of boy and girl students studying at different educational institutions is the top priority.

He was addressing a meeting of vice chancellors of public and private sectors universities of the province, here today.He said that there will be no shortage of resources for security arrangements for the teachers and students. He said that all out cooperation and funds would be provided for security measures in universities.

The Chief Minister announced setting up of joint action committee for further improving security arrangements of universities. He said that concerned ministers, government officials and vice chancellors will be the members of the committee and it will be completely autonomous in financial and administrative matters regarding security arrangements.

During the meeting which lasted for four hours, security arrangements for public and private universities were reviewed in detail and various proposals were presented in this regard. Shehbaz Sharif said that war against terrorism is aimed at survival of the country and the mindset  of extremism and terrorism will have to be defeated. He said that war against terrorism will also have to be fought on the ideological front with full force. He said that the victory in the  war against terrorism will be of 18 crore people of Pakistan.

The Chief Minister said that there is a need to evolve a counter terrorism narrative and universities will have to play a leading role in this regard. Issuing instructions for setting up a committee for evolving counter terrorism narrative, he said that the committee will comprise vice chancellors of private and public sector universities, intellectuals and educationists.

He said that setting up of a safe and peaceful society is the mission of every Pakistani and all out efforts will have to be made for defeating the enemy. He said that there is a need of complete unity for foiling the nefarious designs of the enemy.

Shahbaz Sharif said that besides elimination of extremism and terrorism, hatred and religious differences will also have to be buried. He said that terrorists and their facilitators will be rooted out and the war against terrorism will be won at any cost. He said that the trend of intolerance and religious hatred will have to be controlled.

He stressed the need for collective efforts for setting up a society which is based on tolerance and restraint as there is no room for extremism in the Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam. He said that operation zarb-e-azb has broken the back of terrorists, however, there is a need for promotion of sentiments of tolerance and restraint in the society. He said that universities will have to play an important role in checking the trend of intolerance.

The Chief Minister directed the administration of all universities to ensure complete implementation of the security plan. He said that concerned departments and universities’ administration will have to work with effective coordination for further improving security arrangements of universities. He said that effective security audit is essential for checking security measures of all universities and professional approach will have to be adopted for this purpose.

Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Rana Mashhood Ahmad, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool, MPA Jehangir Khanzada, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Home Secretary, concerned secretaries, Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission and vice chancellors of public and private universities attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting, here today which reviewed in detail security arrangements in public and private educational institutions of the province.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that provision of a peaceful atmosphere to the children for continuing their educational activities is the responsibility of the government and no effort should be spared in this regard. He said that implementation of the security plan evolved for government and private schools should be ensured at any cost and warned that no laxity and negligence will be tolerated in this regard.

Shahbaz Sharif directed that provincial committee on law & order, divisional commissioners, RPOs, CPOs, DCOs and DPOs should check implementation of security plan on regular basis. He said that concerned Ministers and authorities should realize their responsibilities and perform their duties efficiently. He said that concerned departments and institutions should play an active role with regard to the implementation of the security plan.