PESHAWAR, Oct 29: Sale of security equipment in Peshawar has witnessed an unprecedented growth because of increasing insecurity in the NWFP during the past couple of months.

Government officials and executives of various agencies supplying security equipment told Dawn that the worsening law and order situation in different parts of the province and tribal areas had increased the feeling of insecurity among people, leading to a surge in use of security tools.

They said electronic security equipment were being installed in most of the large shopping and business centres and corporate entities in Peshawar. However, government departments were the major clients, they added.

An executive of a leading supplier of security equipment said that apart from some individuals three main suppliers were providing such equipment imported from Japan, China and the US to government and private clients.

Closed-circuit cameras, walk-through gates, wheel examiners and metal detactors are the main items being supplied, with the first two much in demand.

He said all the three main suppliers had surpassed their annual sale targets in six months. He said his firm’s target for 2007-8 of Rs2.5 million had been surpassed.

He said the other two firms were also receiving orders in bulk from different corporate organisations and government entities.

The government departments in Peshawar which had installed security equipment included the Fata secretariat, central police office, city development and municipal department, town-II administration and Chief Minister’s House, whereas installation was under way at Governor’s House and civil secretariat, he said

Private security agencies are also making a fortune. An official of an agency said more than 6,000 security guards had been hired by various government and semi-government departments and private firms, including educational institutions.