Enhanced security in, around military areas

An abnormal security environment has necessitated the introduction of enhanced security arrangements across the country. The regional offices of the three forces located in the financial hub of the country have also taken stepped-up security measures to thwart any possible terror attack.
The regional headquarters of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Air Force have established a well-developed security system in the city, a visit to the armed forces' residential estates and operational bases showed on Wednesday.
The regional headquarters of the armed forces have enhanced the number of security men at all the entry and exit points, constructed boundary walls, installed security instruments and established reception counters outside the operational and residential areas, but they are facing difficulties in covering some of the areas due to location constraints. They have also developed a complete monitoring system by installing surveillance cameras inside and outside their offices and residences.
Most of the Pakistan Navy installations are situated in one of the most congested commercial and residential areas of the city and can be approached from all directions, due to which the forces could not cover the entire areas that they deem necessary for security. The operational and residential areas like Naval Provost Headquarters, Naval Officers Residential Estate, Naval Police Headquarters and Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan Jahangir Complex are located in the busiest shopping centre (Saddar) of the city, which is causing difficulties in ensuring stringent security arrangements.
Nevertheless, the naval forces have constructed long boundary walls around the operational and residential zones, locked down different gates and allowed the use of only one gate for entrance to the premises. They have also erected cemented blocks at the entry points. Special entry cards have been issued to residents while parking of private vehicles has been declared strictly prohibited.
Air Force has made special security arrangements inside and outside the PAF Base Faisal, set up an operational zone by establishing a checkpost, put up high security kerb road blockers and constructed a long boundary wall, but it has failed to make similar arrangements in its residential estate. All the gates leading to the officers' residences have been closed and a single entry and exit point is established near Fazaia Degree College.
The main gate of the college has also been shut while students and teachers have been asked to use main entrance. Like Pakistan Navy, the force had also banned the entrance of the general public in the residential estate and issued passes to workers and contractors for entry purpose. They are also constructing a boundary wall around the open residential zone. They have established the reception point outside the residential area.
An officer at the reception requesting anonymity told Business Recorder that the force have recently constructed a flyover for official vehicular traffic and built gates at the beginning of the gates to stop private vehicles from entering the operational and residential estates. The force has also constructed a long boundary wall around both the bases and installed cameras.
Security at Army's operational and residential hub in the city, which is also known as Malir Cantonment, has been enhanced by developing a fool-proof security system within and outside the garrison. There are six entry and exit points in Malir Cantonment and the Army has already set up checkposts at all the points.
The force has also made strict security arrangements inside the Malir Garrison where it has installed cameras at various points. A large number of civilians also reside in this contonment, who have been issued passes for entry while entry of all other civilians has been declared prohibited. This reporter visited various offices of forces for comments, but none from the three forces agreed to speak on the beefed up security arrangements.