Punjab government schools security arrangements
Each government school to get Rs0.15m for security
Lahore, Nov 5: The Punjab government has decided to release Rs 0.15 million to each
school in the public sector for security arrangements. This was stated by EDO
Education Dr Muhammad Arshad on Wednesday. He said
the amount had already been released to most of the schools for ensuring
security measures at the earliest, which include both boys and girls primary to
higher secondary schools, adding that the remaining schools would receive the
grant within the next few days. As a part of precautionary steps, he said,
eight feet high boundary walls were being constructed at the institutions
without any fences. The government has, meanwhile, abolished the restriction
of walkthrough gates at schools for security purposes, which is a result of
equipment's high cost ranging from Rs 0.2 million to one million. On the
other hand, Punjab Minister for Education Mujataba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that
the closure of schools was creating fear and harassment among the people and
these should remain open after taking necessary security measures swiftly. He
said the govt would also provide armed security guards at the schools to whom
the Elite Force would impart related training. Regarding the private schools,
he said security as prescribed desired by the government was in their
responsibility, adding that the govt would neither show leniency in this respect
nor they would be allowed to raise the tuition fee under the pretext of
additional expanses. And in the wake of rising demand, the prices of security
devices has increased manifold in the market. According to a survey, the price
of metal detector has jumped from Rs 1200/1300 to Rs 1700/1800. Similarly, the
prices of close circuit cameras increased from Rs 650/4000 to Rs 750/4200 while
the price of walkthrough gates is now hovering around 1,35,000 rupees but its
demand is static because of being expensive. However, the prices are expected
to begin a slide in next few days, as the demand has already reached its
peak. Meanwhile, the police raiding teams closed down a number of schools and
colleges in the city including some reputed private school systems, despite the
claim made by the EDO Education that no school has been forced to shut down. It
is said that some of the schools have been closed till November 8. The nation
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Punjab University banned the entry of all vehicles
Lahore: In view of the deteriorating law and order situation of the country, the
Punjab University (PU) has banned the entry of all vehicles into the premises of
its New Campus. This is causing students a lot of problems, who are finding it
difficult to get around the sprawling campus. The university has started
a shuttle service, which picks and drops students at designated points in the
university, ferrying them to and from their respective departments and the two
newly-created parking areas, one at Gate No 2 and the other at the PU Islamic
Centre. However, several students have complained that the timings of the
shuttle service do not match class schedules. Several departments end lectures
at 5:30pm, while the last bus leaves at the same time, making it difficult for
students to catch it in time. Students have criticised the latest move,
saying not only do they have to pay for the parking; they end up being late for
most classes, since the shuttle is seldom on time. Several parents have also
spoken out against this latest 'nuisance', saying that it is difficult for them
to drop their children on time. "I used to leave home 20 minutes before my
daughter's class began and would usually make it on time," Muhammad Abid, an
annoyed parent said. "Now, however, we have to leave an hour
earlier, and she has to wait extra for the shuttle to her
department." Commenting on the situation, PU Public Relations Officer
Shabbir Sarwar said that there are more than enough buses, which ran at
10-minute intervals. He said the university administration had decided
to issue students monthly passes for their vehicles. "Students with motorcycles
will be charged Rs 100 per month while those with cars will be charged Rs 200,"
he said, adding that the university had been considering providing all students
free parking. A visit to the university revealed that the security guards
deputed at different points in the campus do not have weapons to deal with any
security situation that may arise. Daily Times
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Hostel facility for morning students only
Lahore: Punjab University hostels are only allotted to regular student of
morning sessions on merit. In a statement on Wednesday, PU spokesman in
response to a protest held by Islami Jamiat Tulaba here at New Campus said it
was clearly mentioned in the admission advertisement of the evening programme
that hostels were not available for evening students. The IJT protestors
demanded hostel facility for evening programme students. The PU spokesman
said that there were 27 hostels, 15 for boys in New Campus, 10 for girls while
two hostels were for boys in Old Campus, which accommodated 4,000 boys and 3,000
girls. Compared to any institution in the city, excellent facilities are being
provided in these hostels, the spokesman said. The spokesman said that
administration was currently focusing on security arrangements; however measures
were being taken to provide internet facility in all hostels. He said two
hostels have been provided Internet facility so far. Moreover, every
teaching department and main library have Internet facility, he said adding
minimum monthly mess charges of Rs 350 were compulsory for students so that they
may enjoy hygienic food of hostels instead of eating outside. The
spokesman said that expelled students also participated in the protest and they
were tying to pressurise the PU administration to restore their admissions.
These students were involved in illegal activities and were earlier restored on
the request of their parents but many of them again indulged in negative
activities. The news
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Admin blames lawlessness, GCUF closed after students protest
Faisalabad: The Government College University Faisalabad has reportedly
been closed on the orders of the vice-chancellor for an indefinite period
because of massive student protests against the enhanced hostel dues, however,
the administration blames poor law and order for the closure. Reports
said hundreds of varsity students got infuriated on Wednesday when female
borders informed their male fellows that their hostel warden had threatened them
with dire consequences and rustication on different charges. Students of
various departments, including boarders and day-scholars boycotted their classes
protesting the alleged threats to students and misbehaviour of hall warden with
those who joined the protest. The students gathered on the campus and
after taking a round of the academia besieged the VC office for about five
hours. They were chanting slogans against the 'wrong approach' of the
administration. The varsity officials tried to pacify the students
saying the vice-chancellor had already accepted their demand for cut in hostel
dues and a notification to this effect would be issued shortly. However, the
students insisted that the VC should first terminate the services of lady hostel
warden who misbehaved with girl students. Talking to reporters, female
students alleged that warned had threatened them with dire consequences if they
joined protest. The warden also threatened that administration would call girls
parents, the students alleged. Owing to the protest, the administration
locked all varsity gates and did not allow anyone, including students, to enter
or leave the campus. The gate closure created problems for the girl
students who had to wait at the varsity entrance. Later, the students
marched towards the main varsity gate to stage a sit-in on Jhang Road. They also
broke open the gate locks. Sensing the situation, the VC himself
approached the protesters and offered to issue revised hostel fee notification
immediately. During the VC's address to protesters, a group of MSF students kept
chanting slogans in his favour. Sources said some varsity officials
arranged a gathering of MSF to weaken the students' protest believed to be
backed by the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT). On being informed of the
situation, City District Nazim Zahid Touseef visited the varsity and held talks
with the protesters. He assured students a probe into the issue would be
launched and the guilty would face the music. The nazim at last got
issued a notification of revised hostel dues according to which the
administration would charge Rs4,400 for a semester instead of earlier Rs9,300.
Immediately after issuance of the hostel fee notification, the
administration issued another one saying the varsity was being closed till
further orders because of law and order problem obtaining in the country.
The protesters, however, alleged that the varsity closure was aimed at
getting rid of student demonstrations and their demand for action against girl
hostel warden. They said it would not be possible for the boarders from remote
areas to leave hostels immediately. Dawn
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KEMU staff hold demo
Lahore: All the contract employees of the King Edward Medical University
on Wednesday protested in front of the university gate against the
administration for not granting them permanent status even after the directions
of the chief minister. According to a press statement, the office-bearers
of the KEMU Employees Action Committee, including Abdurrauf, Shahbaz Ahmed,
Naeem Farooq, Zainul Islam and Muhammad Azeem, staged a protest demonstration
for their demands. They accused KEMU HR Director Dr Tabassum of planning to
deprive them of their rights because he had recently hired contract employees
after receiving Rs 30,000 bribe from each of them. The contract employees
observed a strike all day long and said that the administration was issuing them
threats asking them to give up their rights. The office-bearers of the action
committee said that the MBBS exams were due from November 13 and if their
demands were not given a permanent status, they would not work or cooperate with
the administration at any level and there was a possibility of delay in exams.
The action committee members said that they would continue observing
strike and staging protest demonstrations until their demands were met. The news
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IUB holds annual projects exhibition
Bahawalpur: Islamia University Bahawalpur Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Belal
A. Khan inaugurated the annual projects exhibition at the university's College
of Engineering and Technology on Wednesday. As many as 16 groups of
students displayed their final year projects based on electronics and computer
engineering. In his presidential address, Prof Khan announced 10 foreign
scholarships for engineering faculty this year and a hostel for engineering
students. He stressed the need for close liaison between universities and
industries. Dawn
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No intention to close educational institutions
Lahore: Provincial law minister Rana Sana Ullah has said that the government has
no policy to close educational institutions. If any higher official has given
any statement about the closure of the educational institutions, it is not based
on fact and would be investigated. F.P Report
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Hoax call disrupts school day
Kasur: A hoax call that a bomb had been planted at the Government Girls
High School, Klarkabad, panicked students and teachers here on Wednesday.
The police said an unidentified caller informed the principal that a
bomb had been planted on the school premises. The management evicted the school.
The police and a bomb disposal squad searched the building and found no bomb
there. Dawn
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