Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to address regulatory issues concerning private security companies operating across the province, announcing stringent measures to ensure compliance.

The meeting, held at the Home Department, resulted in the cancellation of licenses for 36 private security firms and the issuance of show-cause notices to 41 others, signaling a major overhaul of the sector.

According to the Home Department spokesperson, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Iqbal Memon briefed the minister on the status of the 302 registered private security companies in Sindh. The briefing highlighted ongoing inspections and enforcement actions, revealing lapses in compliance with regulatory standards.

Lanjar emphasized that negligence would not be tolerated and announced the formation of a committee, comprising the Special Secretary (Home), the minister’s coordinator, Special Branch representatives, and law enforcement officials, to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all private security firms within 30 days.

The minister stressed the urgent need to revise standard operating procedures (SOPs) and introduce necessary amendments to existing laws to regulate the sector effectively. “We are serious about bringing all operations of private security companies within a legal framework,” Lanjar stated, announcing the establishment of a dedicated desk at the Home Department, which he will personally monitor. This desk will oversee compliance and streamline oversight.

Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, addressing the meeting, noted that the Sindh Police’s Employee Verification Management System (EVMS) is actively used to verify security guards’ credentials. He emphasized that EVMS registration and data verification are mandatory for all private security personnel, ensuring accountability and transparency.

The crackdown follows concerns over unregulated operations, inadequate training, and potential security risks posed by non-compliant firms. The committee’s forthcoming report will determine further actions, with non-compliant companies facing legal consequences.