Sindh Police push to make private guards compulsory for jewellers, banks, traders

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Fasahat Mohiuddin
The Sindh police are reportedly trying to present a bill, called the Sindh Shop and Establishment (Security) Act, which will make it compulsory for jewellers, banks, and traders to hire private security guards.

After the acceptance of this Bill, the police force will be withdrawn from all these places, including private banks.

Sources told The News that the Bill also calls for a month’s imprisonment and a fine of Rs15,000 for anyone who fails to comply with these orders.

Moreover, the police will have the authority to seal the shop or private establishment in question in order to ensure the efficacy of this strategy.

It may be noted here that at present, around 230 private security companies are registered with the Sindh home department.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Waseem Ahmed has reportedly sent this Bill to the law department, which has in turn sought the opinion of departments concerned so that the Bill can be presented in the Sindh Assembly.

Meanwhile, Sindh already has a Shop and Establishment Act which comes under the purview of the Labour Department, while the changes proposed in the new Bill currently exist in Punjab.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=197754