Pak. flights to have security guards

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, SEPT. 30. All domestic flights in Pakistan will have security guards following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held here on Saturday under the chairmanship of the Acting Defence Secretary, Gen. Shehzada Alam Malik.

Like the rest of the world, the Pakistan airline industry has been hit by the September 11 tragedy. The state- owned Pakistan Airlines, which is already suffering on account of heavy losses, will find it difficult to carry on unless its operations are back to normal.

According to the Associate Press of Pakistan, the state-run news agency, the meeting was of the view that security arrangements at airports were satisfactory and the country's airspace was safe for the operation of airliners to and fro Pakistan. The meeting reviewed the instructions issued by the Ministry of Defence for enhancement of security arrangements at airports.

Representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the army, the air force, PIA, CAA and ASF attended the meeting. The meeting also took a number of decisions for the safety of passengers and aircraft and civil aviation installations to avoid any act of unlawful interference.

The APP said efforts would be made to upgrade security equipment including, X-Ray machines and walk-through gates and wherever necessary, new equipment shall be procured and installed.

In a related development, the Pakistan Minister for Communication And Railways, Lt. Gen. (retd) Javed Ashraf, directed railway officers to ensure security at railway tracks and installations. He also urged them to be vigilant against any possible sabotage or subversive activities.

Mr. Ashraf was presiding over a meeting of divisional superintendents and senior officials of Pakistan Railways in Lahore. The Minister oredred the removal of all illegal encroachments from railway lands and tracks around railway stations.

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