Islamabad, Dec 23 (IANS): A three lakh-strong volunteer force will be formed to provide security at educational institutions across Punjab province in Pakistan.

A large number of volunteers were being gathered to counter the threat stemming from terrorism at education institutions, The News International reported Tuesday citing Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashood.

This came after law enforcement agencies here identified 1,159 educational institutes in the Pakistani capital as soft targets for terrorists.

On Dec 16, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) massacred more than 140 students and teachers in an attack on the Army Public School at Peshawar.

Mashood further said a meeting of the administrations of education institutions has been called for Wednesday.

Mashood added that the entire nation had stood up against terrorism and the government was not solely responsible for countering this menace.

"First we listened to the Taliban, then we launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb and now we all need to be on the same page," Mashood said.

Mashood also informed the media that a report pertaining to corruption in the Punjab Education Foundation will be sent to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a few days.