600 ITP personnel to perform duties on March 23

Vehicles without invitation cards barred from parade grounds

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has devised a special traffic plan for facilitating the commuters on March 23 Pakistan Day Parade and its preparations.

According to the ITP traffic plan issued by the office of Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Farrukh Rasheed, heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter the capital city on March 17, 19, 21 and March 23 from 12am to 2pm.

A total of 600 ITP personnel including one SP, two DSPs and 22 inspectors will perform duties on Pakistan Day.

Small vehicles coming from Lahore will use route of Rawat T-Cross to reach the motorway after passing through Rawalpindi Saddar Road and Peshawar GT Road. Vehicles coming from Rawalpindi Airport will use the Expressway and to be diverted from Khana Bridge. They may use Lehtrar Road, Captain Naeem Tufail Shaheed Chowk (Taramri Chowk), Park Road, Rawal Dam Chowk, Murree Road to reach G-sectors or Kashmir Highway.

Those motorists traveling to Murree may take a turn from Kashmir Chowk and travel towards their destination from Bhara Kahu. Those going to Islamabad Airport or Lahore will use 9th Avenue, Murree Road, Rawal Road and take a right turn from Koral Flyover.



The motorists coming from motorway may use Kashmir Highway to move towards Aabpara, Bhara Kahu and Murree. Faizabad will remain completely closed for all types of traffic while Expressway will be also closed from Khana Bridge to Faizabad for small vehicles on March 17, 19, 21 and March 23 from 5am to 2pm except those having permission letter to move ahead.

Similarly, Faisal Avenue will be closed from Zero Point to Faizabad and Murree Road to remain closed from Rawal Dam Chowk to Faizabad on these days. Only people with permission cards will be allowed to move on these roads. Invitation cards in different colors have been issued to guests coming to attend the Pakistan Day parade. The cards give the driver guidance on the route, parking lot and sitting area.

For instance people having red invitation cards will reach the sitting area after using the red marked route and parking vehicle in the red colour parking area. Every guest will use the route according to the color of his/her card.

Guests coming from Murree Road Rawalpindi will reach the Expressway after crossing Faizabad Flyover. They will take a U-turn from Shakarparian Flyover and enter route number 1 to reach the parking area.

Those having green or black colour invitation cards and coming from Islamabad will cross Shakarparian Flyover and enter the route number 1 to reach their parking areas.  Signboards in different colours and personnel will also guide the guests towards their parking areas.

Those coming from Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Mangla will use Islamabad Expressway.

They will reach Shakarparian Flyover after crossing Faizabad underpass and take a U-turn from there to access route number I. The participants having red or yellow invitation cards will use the same route being used by the green or black card holders but they will use route number II on Islamabad Highway to reach the Parade Avenue.

Guests having blue, red, green and maroon invitation cards will use the same route specified for holders of green and black colour cards. However, they will enter the Parade Avenue through entry route no III on Expressway.

Similarly, the public transport plying between Rawalpindi to Islamabad will be diverted from Missile Chowk to Khana Bridge, Lehtrar Road, Park Road and Rawal Dam Chowk. It will be further diverted on right side on Kashmir Highway for Murree and on left side from Kashmir Chowk to reach Islamabad.



For general public, transport will be diverted from IJP Road to 9th Avenue Kashmir Highway. While those coming from Murree Road Rawalpindi area will be asked to use Stadium Road and then be diverted on 9th Avenue and Kashmir Highway.

The citizens have been requested to cooperate with ITP police and military staff. Those coming to witness the parade must bring their NICs with them. Camera, mobile phones and edibles would not be allowed. People may immediately inform at helpline 1135, ITP helpline 1915 in case of observing any suspect or suspicious material around them.

The stickers issued by the administration must be displayed on the front windscreen of vehicles. People will be informed about any decision after weather update through radio or television. ITP FM Radio 92.4 will keep updating the citizens about traffic situation in the city during these days. Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during these days.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2019.