The University of Karachi administration has decided to hire the services of a private security firm to beef up security inside the campus in the wake of a suicide bombing last month.
The private security firm would supplement security offered by Rangers deployed permanently at the campus and the KU’s own guards.
“University management has decided to hire services of a private security company,” Advisor to Vice-Chancellor on Security Affairs Dr Muhammad Zubair announced.
Dr Zubair said that the decision to hire services of a private security company had been taken six months ago and the university management had issued a tender in this regard.
“Six security firms have shown their interest and applied to win the contract and the varsity has shortlisted two of them,” the security advisor added.
Dr Zubair said that his team has identified 120 points where security officers should be stationed round the clock. “For instance, a security guard should be deployed all the time outside administration block, examination and semester cells, and at the girls and boys’ hostels,” he added.
“Currently one guard has the responsibility to provide security to four or five departments — something that is practically not possible,” he said.
The varsity has 146 security guards and they are deployed in three shifts. Almost 40 security guards perform duties in one shift.
The security advisor expressed hope that the addition of private security personnel will help in improving security at the university.
However, Karachi university has a permanent deployment of Rangers, who live on campus round-the-clock.
The Rangers were first deployed at the university in 1989 after deadly student clashes
When asked about the need of hiring a private firm despite the presence of the Pakistan Rangers, Dr Zubair said that the paramilitary force is performing assigned duty accordingly.
