Islamabad, Jan 27 (IANS): Police in Pakistan's northwest Tuesday started imparting arms training to teachers to defend themselves in case of a terrorist attack on schools.

The government launched the programme following last month's Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar that killed over 140 students and staff.

The anti-terror police officers formally began the training programme for women teachers in Peshawar to teach them how to use pistols.

TV footage showed two women teachers holding pistols at a police centre.

"This training is a must in view of the worst situation. We do not have any other option but to learn basic training," Xinhua news agency quoted a woman teacher as telling reporters at the training centre.

The police officers taught the teachers how to hold, load and unload the pistol, point and hit the target.

The government has also decided to issue licences for small arms to the teachers.

"We are getting the training to protect ourselves in schools and also at homes," the woman teacher said.

The school attack was widely condemned in Pakistan and across the world, but Taliban chief, Maulvi Fazalullah, had defended the massacre and also threatened more such attacks.

The federal and provincial governments have tightened security for government and private schools.