Pindi on high alert for test match

The security arrangements for a test match between Pakistan and South Africa scheduled to be played from February 4 till February 8 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (RCS) have been finalised.

The double-road adjoining the RCS will remain blocked during match hours. Important establishments, including the Shehbaz Sharif Sports Complex, the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) and the Allama Iqbal Park, have been sealed off with erection of barricades.

Personnel of the army, the paramilitary forces and the police have been deployed at the entry and exit gates of the RCS.

The officials said a bomb disposal squad (BDS) would conduct a survey before the start of the practice sessions.

Rawalpindi Operations SSP and Rawal Division SP Roy Mazhar Iqbal on Saturday visited the RCS and reviewed the security arrangements. The teams are currently staying at a hotel in Islamabad, he said.

He added that the Shamsabad Metro bus station would remain shut during the match hours while the passengers would be dropped at an alternative terminal.

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A day ago, the Rawalpindi City Traffic Police issued a traffic plan for the second test match between Pakistan and South Africa and advised citizens to use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience as main roads will remain closed in the coming week.

“The CTP will make efforts to regulate traffic in adjacent areas of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” said Senior Traffic Officer (STO) Syed Abid Abbas Shah.

He shared that the main double-road would remain closed for all traffic from the beginning to the conclusion of the practice session and the match every day. He urged the commuters to cooperate with the police performing duties during the cricket match.

Traffic coming from Rawal Dam towards Rawalpindi will be diverted to the Islamabad Expressway while traffic will be allowed to enter Rawalpindi via Dhoke Kala Khan, Khanna and Korali, he mentioned. Traffic going from Rawalpindi to Islamabad will take a U-turn in front of the Kidney Centre and use the opposite side to enter the capital, he added.

Furthermore, traffic moving from IJP Road and 9th Avenue Chowk towards Rawalpindi can take Pindora Chungi, Katarian, Carriage Factory and Pir Wadhai route to enter Rawalpindi instead of the Double Road. Shah added that heavy traffic would be strictly banned in the area around the stadium while the match was being played.

The STO further informed that 303 CTP personnel, including seven DSPs, 15 Inspectors, 215 traffic wardens and 65 traffic assistants, under the supervision of the SSP (Traffic), would be deployed to regulate traffic in the city.

He added that the CTP officials had been directed to keep an eye on suspicious vehicles, motorcycles and vehicles with tinted glasses along with taking strict action in accordance with the law against vehicles without proper licence plates.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2021.