Independence Day: Cell service to be suspended in capital till noon

ICT admin writes to interior ministry, PTA seeking suspension of cell service for six hours

ISLAMABAD: Residents of the federal capital will be without mobile phone service on Independence Day as the city administration has decided to shut the service for six hours for security reasons.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration has requested that the Ministry of Interior and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) suspend cellular services on August 14 from 6am to 12 noon “to avert any untoward incident”.



A letter written by the Islamabad deputy commissioner says that a decision had been taken to provide foolproof security to the August 14 flag-hoisting ceremony at the Convention Centre.

Earlier, the ICT Administration had announced it would close all seminaries in a two-kilometre radius of the Convention Centre for three days ahead of the Independence Day.

“All seminaries located around the Convention Centre within two-kilometre radius shall be closed from August 12 to August 14,” said an ICTA spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that all three public hospitals in Islamabad — Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Polyclinic and Capital Hospital — have been put on high alert. Further, 10 ambulances with doctors and paramedics and five fire brigade vehicles will be stationed at the Convention Centre as part of the security protocol. No one will be allowed to enter in Convention Centre without security passes and invitation cards.



The administration has also imposed a ban on wheeling, rash driving and vehicles and motorcycles without silencers for two months.

Meanwhile, Islamabad Electric Supply Company has been taken on board regarding the uninterrupted supply of electricity to the main venue of the Independence Day celebrations, said a press release.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2016.