The Sindh Private Security Act, 2026

to provide for regulation and control of private security companies, private security training institutes and private security guards, in the Province of Sindh.

WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for regulation and control of private security companies, private security training institutes and private security guards, in the Province of Sindh, and to provide for matters ancillary thereto.

It is hereby enacted as follows: -

1. Short title, Extent and commencement.
(1) This Act may be called the Sindh Private Security Act, 2026.

(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Province of Sindh.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions.
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context-

(a) “Appellate Authority” means the Minister, acting in its appellate capacity under this Act;

(b) “Company” means a private security company, permitted to work through license, carrying on the business of providing the security guards or security arrangements incorporated in the laws of Pakistan;

(c) “Department” means the Home Department, Government of Sindh;

(d) “Government” means the Government of Sindh;

(e) “license” means license granted under this Act to operate as a private security company, act as a security guard or to run a training institute;

(f) “licensee” means the holder of the license granted or renewed under this Act;

(g) “Licensing Authority” means the Secretary of the Department;

(h) “Minister” means the Minister for Home/Minister In-charge of the Department;

(i) “person” means and includes an individual, a company, an agency or an association of persons or body of individuals formed, organized or established in Pakistan or elsewhere, whether incorporated or not;

(j) “Province” means the Province of Sindh;

(k) “Registrar” means the head of office established in Department dealing with the matters relating to company, security guards and training Institute;

(l) “Rules” means rules made under this Act;

(m) “Regulations” means the regulations made under this Act;

(n) “Security Guard" means a person, having valid license to be a guard, and engaged by the company and includes a supervisor who possesses required training from the training institute;

(o) “Social Security” means providing benefits to the security guards or their dependents in the event of sickness, maternity, employment, injury or death in accordance with the Sindh Employees Social Security Institutions Act, 2016 (Sindh Act No.VI of 2016).

(p) "Training Institute" means Private Security Training Institute holding valid license for the provision of training to the security guards;

(q) “Working Days” refer to the days of the week on which a security guard is required to render his services and be such working days as regulated by the labour laws in force in the Province of Sindh;

(r) “Working Hours” means the period during which the security guard is employed and is expected to render his services for wages; provided that the maximum number of working hours in a week is regulated by the labour laws in force in the Province of Sindh.

3. Prohibition against the establishment or continuing a company.
(1) No company shall be established or continue to operate except in accordance with the provision of this Act.

(2) A company already in existence and having valid license, prior to coming into force of this Act, shall continue to operate for the period as may be specified in such license and on expiry of such specified period, the license may be renewed annually by the Licensing Authority, on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.

Provided that the company shall apply for renewal of the license sixty (60) days before expiration of the license and in case of failure and on expiry of license period, the operations of the company shall cease to exist until the license in renewed.

(3) No person shall engage in the business of providing the services of security guards and/or training to security guards without a valid license.

4. Application for grant of license to company or training institute.
(1) Any person intending to establish a company or a training institute shall make an application for grant of license to the Licensing Authority in such form and on payment of such fees along with the required particulars as may be prescribed.

(2) No license shall be granted if the applicant does not fulfill the conditions and requirements prescribed for grant of a license.

(3) Upon receiving an application under sub-section (1), the Licensing Authority may, after making necessary inquiries and obtained character antecedence verification from the relevant authorities or departments, grant or refuse, by an order in writing, a license within sixty (60) days of receipt of the application:

a) Provided that no order of refusal shall be made unless the applicant has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard;

b) Provided further that the reasons for refusal to grant the license shall be recorded in writing and be communicated to the applicant.

(4) If the Licensing Authority is satisfied with the inquiries and character antecedence verification obtained from the authorities or departments under sub-section (3), it shall issue a license to the applicant on the prescribed form.

(5) The license granted under sub-section (4) shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of its issue and may be renewed annually by the Licensing authority, on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.

(6) The Registrar shall maintain a register of license granted under sub-section (4) in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed.

5. Renewal of the License.
(1) An application for the renewal of a license shall be submitted to the Licensing Authority through the Registrar at least sixty (60) days before the expiration of such license.

(2) Upon receipt, the Registrar shall review the application and submit it, together with recommendations, to the Licensing Authority.

(3) The Licensing Authority shall, within thirty (30) days of receipt of an application complete in all respects, and after considering the recommendations of the Registrar and making such inquiry as it considers necessary, by order in writing, renew or refuse to renew the same:

Provided refusing to renew the license, the licensee shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard in person and reasons for refusal to renew the license shall be recorded in writing and be communicated to the applicant.

(4) Where a licensee fails to apply for renewal within the period specified in sub-section (1) and the license expires, the operations of the company shall cease until the license is renewed.

6. Conditions for commencement of operation of the Company.
A company, who has been granted license under this Act, shall commence its operations within six months from the date of issuance of license and shall hire security guards having valid license.

7. Employment of staff and security guards by company and training institute.
(1) The company and training institute may, in the conduct of business, employ as many persons as considered necessary to be security guards and members of staff and shall at all times during such employment be responsible for good conduct of each and every person employed.

(2) The company shall not employ or engage any person as security guard who –

(i) is not a citizen of Pakistan;

(ii) has been convicted of any offence involving fraud or moral turpitude or dismissed from Government service on charges of misconduct; or

(iii) is not eighteen years of age;

(iv) has not successfully completed the prescribed security training and testing; and

(v) does not fulfill such physical and psychological standards as may be prescribed in the rules or regulations.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no person shall be employed by a company as a security guard until it has submitted to the Registrar, a statement containing complete particulars and information of such person on the prescribed proforma.

(4) Every company and training institute shall maintain a list of all persons employed with full particulars and antecedents at the place of business.

(5) Every company shall make arrangements for insurance of every security guard employed by it, with a registered insurance company, at least in respect of serious injury sustained or as prescribed in rules and regulations, amounting to disability or death of security guard, in the discharge of his duties.

8. Security guards to wear uniform.
The security guards shall wear such uniform as may be prescribed in the Rules made under this Act.

9. Conditions for commencement of operations of Private Security Training Institute.
As soon as after the grant of license, the Training Institute shall commence its operation as prescribed in Rules and regulations at its disposal.

10. License to be exhibited.
(1) A company and training institute shall exhibit the license or copy thereof in a conspicuous place at principal place of business and at every branch.

(2) The security guard shall keep a copy of the license issued to him at all times and shall be bound to produce if and when required by the Licensing Authority or the Registrar or any other authorized officer/official on its behalf.

11. Amendment in the Constitution of a Company.
(1) No amendment of the constitution of company shall be valid unless it has been approved by the Licensing Authority, for which purpose a copy of the amendment shall be forwarded to the Licensing Authority through the Registrar.

(2) If the Licensing Authority is satisfied that the amendment of the constitution is not contrary to the provisions of this Act, Rules, or Regulations, it may, if it thinks fit, approve the amendment.

12. Inspection and Audit of a Company and Training Institute.
(1) A structured mechanism shall be established for the periodic inspection and audit of the company and training institute, as prescribed in the Rules made under this Act, to ensure compliance with the Act, the rules and regulations.

(2) Every company and training institute shall submit their annual report and audit report in the manner, as may be prescribed in the Rules and regulations made under this Act, to the Licensing Authority through Registrar in the first week of January every year for review and analysis.

(3) The Licensing Authority may, at any time, require the licensee to submit a report as may be specified, and failure to comply with such directives may render the licensee to be liable to penalties as prescribed under Section 22.

13. Revocation or suspension of license.
(1) The Licensing Authority may, by order in writing, suspend or revoke a license, if it is satisfied that:

(i) the license has been obtained on misrepresentation or concealment of material facts; or

(ii) the licensee has used or produced false documents or false information in contravention of the provisions of this Act or Rules or Regulations; or

(iii) the licensee has violated the provisions of this Act or the Rules and Regulations made thereunder or any the conditions of the license; or

(iv) the licensee has misused information obtained during the discharge of duty; or

(v) the licensee has been convicted of any offence involving fraud or moral turpitude or any of the officers holding a managerial or executive position, partner, employee or security guard of the licensee has been convicted of any such offence; or

(vi) the licensee, or any its officers, employees, private security guards or its agents, attorneys and anyone acting on its behalf is included in the fourth schedule maintain under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, or is otherwise found to be associated with any proscribed organization or person; or

(vii) the licensee has ceased to carry on the business for which the license has been obtained or licensee, being a company, has applied for liquidation or winding up or the company has been dissolved, had its name struck off the register of the companies, or is not under the active registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan; or

(viii) the licensee is found using any letterhead, advertisement, printed or electronic material to represent that the company or the training institute is a part of the federal, provincial or local government, or has used a name different from that for which the license has been granted; or

(ix) the licensee has impersonated or permitted or aided or abetted any person to impersonate as a public servant; or

(x) the licensee has employed a security guard who does not possess a valid license; or

(xi) the licensee fails to provide services to its client in accordance with the agreement executed by it or as per prescribed procedure; or

(xii) any other substantive irregularity, material non-compliance, misconduct, omission, or act prejudicial to public safety, national security, or the objectives of this Act is discovered, whether or not specifically enumerated above.

(2) The Licensing Authority shall, before suspending or revoking the license under sub-section (1), serve a show cause notice upon the licensee, to enable it to reply to the said notice, within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of its issuance, as to why the license should not be suspended or revoked.

Provided where the Licensing Authority suspends or revokes a license under sub-section (1), it shall issue an order in writing of such suspension or revocation and shall further inform the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.

(3) In case, where the Licensing Authority suspends the license for a period of three months, the licensee shall address and rectify the deficiencies or illegalities pointed thereof, by the Licensing Authority within such period.

(4) Where the licensee fails to justify the suspension as ordered by the Licensing Authority, it may, by an order in writing, revoke the license upon expiry of the suspension period.

Provided that where an appeal has been filed under section 14 against the order of suspension, the Licensing Authority may, up on expiry of the suspension period, proceed in accordance with this sub-section unless the Appellate Authority has suspended the order passed by the Licensing Authority, through an order in writing.

(5) During the period of suspension, the licensee shall cease to carry on the licensed business. The enforcement will be as prescribed in the Rules made under this Act.

14. Filing of an Appeal.
(1) Where the Licensing Authority rejects or refuses to grant or renew the license, or suspends or revokes a license, the applicant or the licensee, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days from the date of the order, prefer an appeal before the Appellate Authority.

(2) The Appellate Authority shall decide the appeal within sixty (60) days from the date of filling, and its decision shall be final.

15. Effect of refusal or revocation of license.
(1) Where an order of refusal or revocation becomes effective under section 14, the licensee shall cease to carry on the licensed business of company or training institute as the case may be.

(2) Notwithstanding any refusal or revocation of a license, the enforcement of any right or claim of any person against the licensee or by the licensee against any person, arising out of, or relating to any matter or thing done prior to such refusal or revocation, as the case may be, shall not be affected.

16. Establishment of Office of Registrar.
(1) Office of the Registrar shall be established in the Department to carry out functions assigned under this Act, Rules and Regulations.

(2) The Registrar shall be appointed from amongst PAS/Ex-PCS/PSS/PMS officers in BPS-18/19.

(3) The office of Registrar shall have reasonable number of officers and officials, and the funds as required to carry out the functions assigned to it under this Act, Rules and Regulations.

(4) A portion of the revenue generated under this Act, Rules and Regulations may be allocated for the office of Registrar.

17. Possession of arms, ammunition and other gadgets.
No licensee shall possess, keep or use arms, ammunitions, radio wireless communication equipment or any other gadget, except in accordance with the relevant laws and as prescribed under the rules.

18. Conditions to be complied with by company or training institute.
(1) Every company and training institute shall:

(a) submit reports to the Licensing Authority in such manners as may be prescribed in the Rules made under this Act; and

(b) furnish to the Licensing Authority any necessary information related to accounts or such other piece of information as the Licensing Authority may from time to time require or as prescribed in the Rules made under this Act.

(2) The Licensing Authority, or the Registrar or any duly authorized officer/official, may inspect the premises of the licensee, records of the licensee’s employees and weapons held by the company as prescribed in the Rules and regulations.

19. Training and certification.
(1) Every security guard will be required to undergo a mandatory training program covering various aspects of security operations, emergency response, crowd management, first aid and other ancillary matters relating to protection and maintenance of security.

(2) The training program under sub-section (1) shall be approved as prescribed in the Rules made under this Act.

(3) The company shall make arrangements for training and refresher courses, as included in the training program, through the training institute for the security guards employed by the company.

(4) Upon successful completion of the training or refresher courses under sub-section (3), the security guard to be issued a certificate by the training institute for employment as security guard in a company.

20. Social security to security guards.
It shall be obligatory for every company to take measures for providing the social security to every security guard employed in accordance with the provisions of the Sindh Employees Social Security Institutions Act, 2016; provided that the company may, in case of death, temporarily or permanently disabled due to illness or injury of the security guard, in addition to the compensation under that Act, pay the compensation to the family of the security guards.

21. Working days and working hours of security guards.
No company shall deploy the security guard to render services in any establishment beyond the working days and working hours as fixed by the authorities under the relevant labour laws, in force, in the Province of Sindh:

Provided that the security guard shall be entitled to receive weekly holiday as described under the relevant labour laws and the working hours of such security guard shall not exceed ten on any working day.

22. Penalties and procedure.
(1) Whoever –

(a) contravenes the provisions of this Act or any rule or regulations made thereunder or any order made thereunder; or

(b) submits a false application for license under this Act or made any false statement or false representation; or

(c) knowingly furnishes false information in any application under this Act, Rules or Regulations; or

(d) fails to comply with any order or other requirement made under this Act, Rules or Regulations or fails to comply with a condition of a license, or direction:

shall be considered guilty of an offence and shall be liable to punishment with imprisonment which may extend to one (01) year and a fine which may extend to rupees two million in case of a company and training institute, and rupees one lac in case of a security guard.

(2) If a company or training institute is guilty of an offence under this Act or Rules and Regulations, every director, officer or partner of the company is deemed to be guilty of committing that offence unless such individual proves that the offence was committed without knowledge or consent.

(3) No Court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act except upon a complaint in writing made by the Licensing Authority, or Registrar on its behalf.

(4) All offences under this Act shall be triable by the District and Sessions Court.

23. Indemnity.
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything, which is done in good faith or intended to be done under this Act.

24. Additional Provisions.
(1) The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force.

(2) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as conferring on a licensee or his employee any of the powers by any law which is conferred upon or exercisable by a police officer, or any other public servant.

25. Power to make rules and regulations.
Government may by notification in the official Gazette make rules and regulations for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

26. Repeal and saving.
(1) The Sindh Private Security Agencies (Regulation and Control) Ordinance 2000, is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding the repeal under sub-section (1), anything done, rules or regulations made, notifications or orders issued, officers appointed, notices given, proceedings commenced, or other actions taken or purportedly to have been taken under the repealed Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been validly done, made, issued, appointed, given, commenced, or taken under this Act and shall remain in force until amended, altered or repealed by the competent authority.