Ministry revokes licences of around 100 private security companies

Ministry of Interior has revoked licences of around 100 private security companies which were not operating up to the mark in the federal capital. It has been learnt that as many as 164 private security companies were issued licences after they got No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Ministry of Interior.
The government issued licences in such a large number, as the demand for private guards in the terror-torn Pakistan especially in capital city was on rise, but many of the private security companies are minting money rather than providing security to their clients.
The action to cancel the licences has been taken on the complaints that the security companies are ignoring the fitness and training of their employees, as some of the companies have not well-qualified persons deputed for security duties, while several companies even enter into illegal operation for hefty profit, official sources further revealed.
Manager of Islamabad-based private security company, on condition of anonymity, said that majority of the companies didn't concentrate on enhancing the security-related skills of their employees. Private security companies are supposed to train their guards or hire ex-servicemen, but in reality they are not following the laid down rules, the clients said.
On the complaints of citizens that on all service roads in capital city, illegal barriers have been raised and they are being harassed by private guards. Commissioner Office of Islamabad Capital Territory has sent letters to Capital Development Authority for the removal of all illegal barriers outside the service roads, but no action has been taken yet.
High-ranking police officials said under the law of private companies, the private guards are not allowed to raise barriers on public property, as erected by the companies operating at all the tall buildings of blue area and other private companies operating in commercial and residential areas. "The violators are repeatedly directed to limit the security close to their premises, which have been stretched so much that it closes the service roads," an official said.
The official said that it was the responsibility of CDA to take action against all those illegal encroachments except building of foreign missions, which receive serious threats from the terror groups. In view of the perceived insecurity, fear of unseen happening and street crimes, the demand for guards of the private security companies has been going up since 2009.
The demand of the guards for houses, companies, NGOs, offices, shops and other businesses is continuously increasing by 15 percent per month, according to a recent survey. A security manager said that the number of guards in the Twin City of Islamabad and Rawalpindi has reached tens of thousands. It has been observed that most of the guards are employed after retirement of the government service.
A guard, also a retired army man, said he is 50 plus and have to support his family and the majority of the guards have similar service background. Keeping the market demand in mind, some high-standard security companies have also raised their fees and altered their contracts, demanding more facilities for their guards and increasing the tenure of the contracts.
However, problems exist as a few companies have been involved in illegal operations. Recent crackdown against the unregistered companies in Pakistan is an evidence of it. The capital police during a raid in I-10 sector of Islamabad on January 5 arrested the director of a private security company and seized huge quantity of illegal weapons.
The director was arrested when he produced fake licence during the checking process carried out by the police. The police also seized eight repeaters, two pistols, a 44-bore rifle and rounds from the company in the crackdown. Police said the private security companies in Pakistan are operating under an administrative order issued by the Ministry of Interior in 1988 and the security companies are required to register themselves with the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under thhe Companies Ordinance, 1984. There are about 493 private security companies in the country now, out of which 50 are registered in Islamabad that have several thousands guards.