Cellular services to be blocked in parts of twin cities today

Cellular service in selected areas of the twin cities will remain suspended from 5am till 12pm as a security measure during the Pakistan Day parade scheduled for today (Thursday), a spokesperson said on Wednesday. Commercial flights will also remain suspended, owing to the flypast of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets, the official added.

Further, more than 1,000 police personnel would be deployed to maintain law and order in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to control traffic. Sources told The Express Tribune that kite-flying, aerial firing, and releasing pigeons into the air in the areas around the parade ground have been banned, while residents are also not allowed to come out on the roofs of their houses or building complexes.

Moreover, contingents of army and police will be deployed at Faizabad and nearby areas of the parade ground.

The Rawalpindi administration has already announced a holiday for March 25 after the parade was rescheduled from March 23 due to a bad weather forecast. According to a notification, all government and private institutions in Rawalpindi will remain closed today (Thursday).

Traffic plan

The City Traffic Police (CTP) has issued a traffic plan for the Pakistan Day parade, according to which, nine DSPs, 25 inspectors, 272 wardens, and 69 traffic assistants will be utilised to maintain the flow of traffic in the city, a spokesperson maintained.

The entry of heavy traffic in the precincts of Rawalpindi has been banned from midnight while the routes to Islamabad and Rawalpindi from Faizabad interchange will remain closed until noon on Thursday.

The traffic coming from Murree Road to Islamabad will be diverted to Islamabad through 9th Avenue via a diversion point from Double Road Chowk while the traffic coming to Islamabad through Koral Chowk will enter Rawalpindi from Chowki No 8 via Khanna Bridge Service Road.

Similarly, vehicles coming from Murree Road to Islamabad will be diverted from 9th Avenue to Stadium Road while the traffic coming to the stadium from 9th Avenue will be diverted to IJP Road where they can enter Rawalpindi from Naka Kataria and Carriage Factory.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Rai Mazhar Iqbal directed all DSPs and in-charges to perform their duties diligently. He added that no lethargy would be tolerated by any officials on the day.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2021.