KARACHI: The Sindh government has cancelled the licenses of 36 private security companies and issued show-cause notices to 41 others for not meeting the standards set by the provincial home department, officials said on Monday.
The decision was shared during a meeting chaired by Home Minister Zia Lanjar, where Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Muhammad Iqbal Memon reported that a total of 302 private security firms are currently registered in Sindh.
Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, who also attended the meeting, explained that these companies are expected to follow a strict set of regulations.
He stated that the home department has the authority to cancel licenses if any agency fails to meet the required criteria, which is what led to the recent actions against several firms.
He also mentioned that inspections are ongoing, and that all security personnel must be verified through the Employee Verification Management System (EVM). This system requires companies to register and confirm the background details of their guards.
The participants of the meeting agreed to review and update the laws and standard operating procedures that govern private security firms in the province.
To carry this out, a committee has been formed, including the special secretary (Home), the home minister’s coordinator, and officials from the Special Branch and other law enforcement agencies.
This committee has been tasked with conducting a full inspection of all registered security companies within 30 days.
Home Minister Zia Lanjar stressed the importance of formal training for all security guards and highlighted the need for clear legal oversight of private security operations.
He also announced that a special desk will be set up to deal specifically with matters related to these companies, and he will personally supervise its progress.