Traffic dept demands 400 wardens for Pak-Australia fixture
Punjab Traffic Police DIG has asked for 400 wardens, 27 senior traffic wardens, six DSPs and one SP rank officer of traffic police to assist City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) in traffic management during the Australia-Pakistan test cricket match.
The match is scheduled from March 21-25 (Monday to Friday). Dealing with traffic mess in the provincial metropolis is a challenging job in normal days.
Their (traffic police) as well the commuters’ woes are multiplied when there is a cricket match. As part of the security plan, diversion or closures are set up on almost all the major roads of the city. This leads to traffic congestions and jams in most parts of the city.
The traffic police had faced criticism last month during Pakistan Super League season 07 (PSL) matches. The police had been bashed at mainstream as well as social media for the issues.
As the situation turns volatile, additional force is summoned from other districts of the province to share the burden with the wardens of Lahore.
However, the woes of warden responding from the other parts of the province are multiplied as they had to manage so many things from lodging to eating for five to six days of their duty away from hometown.
DIG Traffic had in writing asked the Chief Traffic Officers (CTOs) and District Police Officers (DPOs) of at least 20 districts to send wardens to Lahore for the successful conduct of the match.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2022.