IN the last three decades, law and order in Karachi, as well as elsewhere in the country, has deteriorated. The state’s writ has shrunk, leaving large segments of the population at the mercy of those propagating ethnic politics, sectarianism, organised crime and militancy. Against this backdrop, private security has become a need, not a luxury. In fact, it has emerged as a full-time industry.

Since the state is too busy providing police security to VIPs at the taxpayers’ expense, the latter are left with no option but to look for private security in the form of guards and related services. As of today, this industry has grown to a strength of almost 85,000 men in Sindh alone. Of this figure, roughly 75,000 private security guards are deployed just in Karachi. The government has not only abdicated its responsibility of providing security, it has also failed to regulate the private security sector.

The Sindh government promulgated the Private Security Companies Ordinance 2001, requiring a security company’s registration with the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan, subject to clearance from intelligence organisations. But quite a few unregistered ones operate unchecked and illegally.

There is a desperate need to create an independent regulatory authority for the private security sector.

Although the law provides for the monitoring and evaluation of the operations of such a company, government functionaries are taking it casually. The result is that just about anyone is hired as a private security guard irrespective of qualification, intelligence or experience. Even their health background and any criminal record goes unchecked. The one-time chowkidar has become modernised and corporatised by donning a uniform and holding a weapon. Some use their position as security guard to mastermind extortions, crimes, murders, bank holdups etc.

There is a desperate need to create an independent regulatory authority for the private security sector. Besides regulating the industry, it should also facilitate the development of a standard criteria in consultation with the All Pakistan Security Agencies Association to ensure quality services, transparency and accountability, without compromising the state’s role as regulator.

In the US and UK, some duties previously performed by the police and military are now with private security contractors. Even jails have been outsourced. Conceptually, this underlines the need for efficient and cost-effective private security services to supplement and reduce the burden on state institutions.

Until we can develop the police into a proper service provider we must allow the operation of private detectives under licensed security companies, as in developed countries, with efficient law enforcement. Otherwise, citizens will continue to suffer until the police develop proper investigative capacities.

Unfortunately, the imposition of sales tax and other taxes to generate income from a sector in which the government has failed to meet its primary obligation is having a negative impact; it has made security services costlier with the state coming across as totally insensitive to the needs of citizens.

In India, the government has made it mandatory for security companies to furnish data of guards and logistics via web portals. The simple use of technology assists in monitoring, sharing and verifying criminal records, regulating the quality and type of recruitment online across the country and thereby avoiding procedural delays and corruption in the verification process.

A security guard must hold a proper training certificate to show he is qualified, capable, can use fire arms with precision, is trained to be a deterrent presence and effectively prevents or responds to an incident. Unfortunately in Pakistan, except for a few ex-servicemen, the bulk of private guards are drawn from an untrained and illiterate lot who hardly know the basics of security. The usual three-day training is insufficient and an eyewash.

Meanwhile, state institutions wrongly implicate the directors of security companies for the acts of individual guards, despite having followed defined procedures. Such harassment discourages reputable business houses from establishing security companies in collaboration with recognised international firms.

Those who used to operate have already abandoned or withdrawn from Pakistan. The present regulatory procedures are half-baked, ill-conceived, a formality and vague to the extent of being impracticable.

We must understand that in the emerging security challenge, the private security sector can play a vital role not only by reducing the burden of law enforcement agencies, but also by generating employment opportunities for less educated, but intelligent and tech-savvy young men and women, encouraging them to opt for private security as a profession.

We must also understand the difference between policing and security. A clear understanding of basic concepts is the reason that in the UK, US, Australia, UAE and other developed countries, in order to cut costs, the police hire private security personnel for their security at government offices, security installations and even for active police duties.

Ironically, if the Sindh government were to hire private security guards, releasing policemen (about 20,000 plus or roughly 25pc of the effective strength of the Sindh Police) from VIP duty, it can make huge savings.

Each policeman with all service benefits roughly costs Rs45,000 per month — until all beneficiaries of a retired policeman die. Alternately, replacing these personnel with private security guards would bring down costs by half.

The private security companies must improve the quality of services, recruits and training in the use of firearms and technology. Ensuring the welfare of employees with regard to their salaries, work environment, health and insurance will encourage others in the field.

Senior retired policemen, army officers and Rangers should establish recognised training institutions with foreign collaboration to offer credible certifications and diplomas. Security personnel no longer need to be six feet tall with muscle power. Instead, they must be well-trained and intelligent with skills to grasp the needs of modern-day urban security.

Security is an expensive commodity and looking for cheap options is compromising the very need for it. Future police recruitment could also be channelised from this source. For priority induction of certified personnel, the Sindh government’s home department must take ownership of the challenge to enhance the quality of the security services.

The writer was formerly chief of the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee.