Securing Eid festivities: Civic bodies, admin finalise arrangements

Police patrol on roads increased; hospitals put on high alert.

ISLAMABAD: Civic and city authorities have finalised cleanliness and security arrangements for the capital during Eid holidays.

The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) has directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL), district health office and the Civil Defence Department to ensure the presence of their staff to attend to any emergency during Eid holidays.

Furthermore, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and the Polyclinic hospitals have been placed on high alert as a precautionary measure. A control room has been established by the administration, which will function round-the-clock during Eid holidays. People can contact the control room at 051-9108084.

The administration has also issued notices to the law enforcement agencies including police, traffic police and the special branch to formulate comprehensive contingency plans to avoid any untoward incident.

Moreover, assistant commissioners and magistrates have been deputed to perform special duties at public and sensitive points during chand raat and Eid holidays to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, the police have prepared a special plan to ensure foolproof security during the days.

According to the plan, 43 vehicles belonging to the Safe City Project will patrol different roads and sectors and ensure smooth flow of traffic.

Besides these, 26 vehicles will perform operational duties, while 17 will be used by the traffic police.

The SSP (Operations), Sajid Kiyani, told The Express Tribune police would monitor the city through 1,800 cameras installed at various points.

He also said that a special plan had been devised to ensure the security of houses vacated by people who had left for hometowns and tourist spots to celebrate Eid.

In two vehicles, women police will be part of the patrolling contingent.

A briefing session was held here on Monday for the policemen who will be performing special duties in these vehicles.

Inspector General of Police Tariq Masood Yasin, while addressing the police officials reminded them of their increased responsibilities after the introduction of a new technology through the Safe City Project.

He said the new project would also raise expectations of the people. Police should improve their attitude to create a better image of the department, Yasin added.

While on duty, every movement of the policemen was monitored so they should be patient and tolerant, the IGP cautioned them.

It was the responsibility of the police to serve the people and create a people-friendly image for themselves and remove an environment of fear from among the people, he added. The official said police officers and jawans should set an example by following the traffic rules and do not violate rules inviting complaints from the people.

More than 3,500 policemen will be deployed at mosques and imambargahs for security of Eid congregations and other public places across the city and its suburbs.

According to the security plan prepared by the police, officials will be deployed at 932 mosques and 41 imambargahs.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2016.