Sea View beach to remain open on New Year’s Eve
Section 144 to be imposed, along with a ban on pillion riding, aerial firing and one-wheeling
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The city administration has decided that the Sea View beach will remain open for the public on New Year’s Eve this year. The roads leading to Sea View beach will not be closed so as to allow citizens to reach the beach easily, while special traffic arrangements for vehicular traffic will be made to avoid traffic congestion.
These decisions were taken in a meeting chaired by Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani at his office on Thursday, where the commissioner said that the government does not want to stop people from participating in New Year celebrations at Sea View and in other places.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had directed the city administration to make special arrangements to let citizens to go to the beach to enjoy New Year’s eve. He said that the citizens would not be prevented from enjoying New Year celebrations if their celebrations are carried out in a cultured and civilised way, adding that nobody would be allowed to violate the law.
The meeting also decided to deploy special police units to keep watch in case of any miscreants or untoward incidents. These special units will take strict action against those carrying weapons or using narcotics, while those found harassing visitors would also be taken to task.
It was further decided that Section 144 would be imposed on this occasion and a request will be made to the home department in this regard. There will be a ban on pillion riding, aerial firing and one-wheeling.
Four policemen dismissed for harassing couple at Karachi's Sea View
The traffic police briefed the meeting about the arrangements made to ensure better traffic flow. He added, however, that snap checking would be carried out on the roads.
The commissioner said that citizens have every right to enjoy New Year’s eve but they should behave like civilised and law-abiding people. “Nobody would be allowed to carry a weapon, use narcotics, resort to one-wheeling or ride a bike without a silencer,” he added.
Meanwhile, the fire department and all hospitals have been asked to remain on high alert to avoid any untoward incidents, while it was also decided that K-Electric would be told not to carry out any load-shedding.
A popular destination
Sea View beach is a popular spot for people celebrating the arrival of the New Year in the metropolis, with many revellers heading there from across the city. While the beach had been closed to the public for New Year’s Eve for several years recently, the authorities had taken the welcome step of reopening the area for celebrations at the last minute in 2017 and 2018.
According to sources, the government made the decision to reopen the beach because visitors had been diverted to residential areas in Defence Housing Authority and Clifton when turned away from their destination. This caused considerable disturbances for residents in these areas, especially given the silencer-less motorcycles that turn out in force.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 28th, 2019.
The city administration has decided that the Sea View beach will remain open for the public on New Year’s Eve this year. The roads leading to Sea View beach will not be closed so as to allow citizens to reach the beach easily, while special traffic arrangements for vehicular traffic will be made to avoid traffic congestion.
These decisions were taken in a meeting chaired by Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani at his office on Thursday, where the commissioner said that the government does not want to stop people from participating in New Year celebrations at Sea View and in other places.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had directed the city administration to make special arrangements to let citizens to go to the beach to enjoy New Year’s eve. He said that the citizens would not be prevented from enjoying New Year celebrations if their celebrations are carried out in a cultured and civilised way, adding that nobody would be allowed to violate the law.
The meeting also decided to deploy special police units to keep watch in case of any miscreants or untoward incidents. These special units will take strict action against those carrying weapons or using narcotics, while those found harassing visitors would also be taken to task.
It was further decided that Section 144 would be imposed on this occasion and a request will be made to the home department in this regard. There will be a ban on pillion riding, aerial firing and one-wheeling.
Four policemen dismissed for harassing couple at Karachi's Sea View
The traffic police briefed the meeting about the arrangements made to ensure better traffic flow. He added, however, that snap checking would be carried out on the roads.
The commissioner said that citizens have every right to enjoy New Year’s eve but they should behave like civilised and law-abiding people. “Nobody would be allowed to carry a weapon, use narcotics, resort to one-wheeling or ride a bike without a silencer,” he added.
Meanwhile, the fire department and all hospitals have been asked to remain on high alert to avoid any untoward incidents, while it was also decided that K-Electric would be told not to carry out any load-shedding.
A popular destination
Sea View beach is a popular spot for people celebrating the arrival of the New Year in the metropolis, with many revellers heading there from across the city. While the beach had been closed to the public for New Year’s Eve for several years recently, the authorities had taken the welcome step of reopening the area for celebrations at the last minute in 2017 and 2018.
According to sources, the government made the decision to reopen the beach because visitors had been diverted to residential areas in Defence Housing Authority and Clifton when turned away from their destination. This caused considerable disturbances for residents in these areas, especially given the silencer-less motorcycles that turn out in force.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 28th, 2019.