News & Announcements
News
FDE finally decides to install CCTV cameras at institutions
ISLAMABAD: Delaying it for a long time, the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) and the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have mutually agreed to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at educational institutions in the aftermath of the Army Public School (APS) massacre.
Daily Times has learnt that approximately Rs 9 million had been allocated for the purchase of CCTV cameras at 422 educational institutions functioning under the supervision of the FDE. In addition to that, a sum of Rs 100,000 had been allocated for every institution, enabling them to meet the costs of installation. However, the number of cameras to be installed in every institution is still unknown.
The authorities have delayed the installation for more than eight months; since the massacre of innocent young students at the APS Peshawar took place. A parent of a child who was killed in the incident spoke volumes of mismanagement in installing CCTV cameras and said the incident could have been dealt with in a timely fashion if the camera feed was made available live to the law enforcement agencies.
Daily Times learnt that the authorities concerned had allocated funds for the installation of CCTV cameras in the capital but a lobby politicians did not proceed with the plan, as they wanted to pocket the entire sum.
It is the media that played the role of a watchdog, forcing the complacent authorities for implementing the long-awaited plan for making educational institutions safe and secure.
A senior official on the condition of anonymity claimed that “the authorities have been eagerly waiting for a repetition of APS massacre”.
He said that the federal government should allocate a special amount in the annual budget for the purpose of security at educational institutions across the country.
The FDE in September 2014 had allocated Rs 280 million for educational institutions’ security, saying that foolproof security would be introduced, including CCTV cameras, raising of the walls, installation of barbed wires, walkthrough gates, metal detectors and security alarms.
Meanwhile, the prevailing security system at educational institutions portrays a scenario of a fish market. None of the 422 institutions have the security measures in place, as promised in the FDE directions made earlier in September 2014. According to reports, most institutions have lofty-walls through which the terrorists can easily trespass.
When asked about the poor condition of walls guarding the educational institutions, FDE Planning and Development Director Muhammad Taaj said, “We do not have the funds for the purpose, while the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) is not ready to sanction us with the necessary funds.”
News Reference: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/04-Jun-2015/fde-finally-decides-to-install-cctv-cameras-at-institutions
Comments {{ vm.totalComments}}
No comments found, add one now.
{{comment.CommentText}}
{{comment.Name}}, {{comment.DateInserted | date: 'dd/MMM/yyyy hh:mm:ss'}}
Post a comment