The Punjab government will train 16,000 security guards in one year to fight crime and terrorism across the province.
In the first phase, 2,000 guards have been enrolled in a five-week-long course in 15 cities, a statement issued by the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) said on Monday.
The training programme has been started on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to utilise the available manpower to overcome crime in the province.
At a TEVTA meeting, Chairperson Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said the purpose of this course was to provide professionally trained manpower to security companies and national and multinational organisations.
“Gulf countries also require the services of security guards,” he said. “Many organisations are demanding the availability of trained security guards from TEVTA.”
The age limit for admission to the course is between 18 and 45 years. Matriculation graduates are eligible to apply but preference will be given to those with intermediate education and above.
Free training material and Rs1,000 stipends will be provided during the training.
Security clearance from special police branch and home department is essential to avail the training.
TEVTA and Home Department would issue certificates after the successful completion of the course.
The training course has been launched at 20 TEVTA institutions in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Sheikhpura, Faisalabad, Mianwali, Multan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal and Rahim Yar Khan with the collaboration of Punjab Home Department, Rescue 1122, Elite Police Training School and the provincial police and civil defence departments.