CAP Calls for Nationwide Inspection of Private Security Companies
PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS UNDER SCRUTINY: CAP DEMANDS NATIONWIDE CRACKDOWN ON UNTRAINED GUARDS, POLICE-STYLE UNIFORMS AND PUBLIC DISPLAY OF WEAPONS
CAP calls for stricter oversight of private security guards across Pakistan
Kaukab Iqbal urges Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to launch immediate nationwide inspection of private security companies
KARACHI: Chairman Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) Kaukab Iqbal has called upon Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to take immediate and strict notice of the growing concerns surrounding private security companies, particularly the deployment of inadequately trained guards, improper uniforms resembling those of police or armed forces, and the unnecessary public display of weapons.
Kaukab Iqbal said that thousands of private security personnel are deployed across Pakistan at banks, markets, shopping malls, residential buildings, factories, offices, educational institutions and other sensitive locations. When a person is entrusted with a weapon and deployed to protect citizens, proper training, discipline and legal compliance must be non-negotiable.
He said the authorities should urgently verify whether guards deployed by private security companies have received proper and documented training in security procedures, emergency response, public dealing, weapons safety, crowd management and other essential areas. Companies should not be permitted to place inadequately trained personnel on security duties.
The CAP Chairman also raised serious concerns over the appearance and uniforms of some private security guards, saying that uniforms resembling those of police, armed forces or other government security agencies can create confusion among members of the public and may undermine the clear distinction between private security personnel and state law-enforcement officials.
“A private security guard must be immediately identifiable as a private security guard. No private company should be allowed to create confusion by using a uniform that resembles that of a government security or law-enforcement agency,” Kaukab Iqbal said.
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He also called for strict monitoring of armed security guards travelling in vehicles, particularly during escort and mobile-security duties, saying firearms should never be unnecessarily displayed or handled in a manner that causes fear or insecurity among citizens.
Kaukab Iqbal urged the Interior Ministry and relevant provincial authorities to undertake a nationwide inspection and compliance audit of private security companies, covering company licences, guards’ identity and background verification, training certificates, uniforms, weapons licences, deployment records and compliance with applicable laws and security protocols.
He said that companies found violating the prescribed rules should face strict legal and regulatory action, while companies complying with all requirements should be encouraged to maintain higher professional standards.
The CAP Chairman further called for an effective coordination mechanism between the Federal Ministry of Interior, provincial Home Departments, police and other relevant regulatory authorities to ensure regular inspections rather than waiting for an incident before taking action.
“Public security cannot be compromised. Private security companies perform an important function, but with that responsibility comes an equally important obligation to ensure that every guard is properly trained, properly identified, properly uniformed and fully compliant with the law.”
Kaukab Iqbal appealed to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to treat the matter as a public-safety priority and initiate a comprehensive review of private security arrangements across Pakistan so that citizens can distinguish private security personnel from government law-enforcement officials and feel secure rather than intimidated by the presence of armed guards.
