KARACHI - Former president and PPP co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari has directed the Sindh government to devise a comprehensive security plan for the schools and academic institutions across the province particularly Karachi to thwart any possible attack on them.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Zardari’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said the former president gave these directions during a meeting in Bilawal House on Friday evening. Zardari called for strengthening the police force by meeting its operational requirements in terms of equipment, vehicles and materials with focus on the welfare of police force to keep them motivated.
He said the police force was the first line of defence against militancy. He praised the police personnel for their devotion and commitment to duty despite heavy odds. The police personnel who have laid down their lives or have been wounded in the fight are the true national heroes and deserve to be recognised and honoured for it, he said.
The PPP co-chairman directed the provincial finance minister to find out resources for meeting the requirements of the police department especially its Special Services Unit.
He directed the government and the police department to draw a plan in consultation with the management of private and government academic institutions for providing foolproof security to them and also involve the Rangers in this task.
Presiding over another meeting at Bilawal House, he directed for early completion of the solid waste management projects in Karachi, Larkana, Benazirabad (former Nawabshah) and Sukkur to solve the problems of pollution and waste disposal. The meeting on solid waste management was briefed about the plans already drawn up for Karachi, Benazirabad and Larkana.

 He directed that Sukkur should also be included in the master plan for solid waste management and the schemes be completed in the shortest possible time. He said he would monitor the progress on the project periodically.
The meetings were also attended by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, MNA Faryal Talpur, Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah, PPP vice president Sherry Rehman, chief secretary and Sindh Inspector General of Police besides senior government officials.
EBAD FOR INTENSE
SECURITY AT SCHOOLS
Moreover, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad has directed that only those schools should resume their classes, after the winter vacations, where foolproof security arrangements have been made.
Ebad made this direction during a meeting regarding the security arrangements of the schools. It was also decided to implement a short-term plan for all educational institutions in the city. He directed all the schools’ administrations of the metropolis not to resume their educational activities on January 12 without making foolproof security arrangements. Those schools which have made the security arrangements can be reopened after the winter vacations.
It is pertinent to mention here that after the Peshawar Army Public School attack, the intelligence agencies had declared that schools running under the community supervision were highly at risk of terrorist attack.  The Sindh government and the law enforcement agencies had taken steps for securing the schools’ premises in the province.