Police will ensure State Guest-level security to players, ICC officials and other foreign staff during the Pakistan-England cricket matches held in Lahore next week. Inspector Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Faisal Shahkar shared that over 8,000 personnel will perform duties for the security of the matches. Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) cameras will monitor teams' routes, hotels and inside and outside Gaddafi Stadium 24 hours a day, he added.
Shahkar chaired a high-level meeting at PSCA headquarters, where he issued instructions to Special Branch, CTD chief, CCPO Lahore and CTO Lahore about the arrangements, after deliberating upon the plan formulated by the Punjab Police’s top brass. The meeting was attended by the Additional IGs CTD, Special Branch, Operations, CCPO Lahore, Safe City Authority chief operating officer, DIG Operations, Investigation, Security and SSPs.
Lahore Police will also coordinate with the District Administration on parking and transportation to the stadium for fans, in relation to the security plan.
A four-layered security plan will be followed, where players, match staff and fans will be checked at three points; physical frisking, checking with metal detectors and passing through walk-through gates, in addition to surveillance through CCTV cameras.
Cops in civvies will be deployed to monitor potential suspects, both inside the stadium and in surrounding areas. Roads and streets leading to the Gaddafi stadium will be sealed with barbed wires and tents.
Additionally, Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit personnel will remain on patrol in adjacent areas and snipers will be deployed at the nearby vantage points to observe any suspicious persons or activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2022.
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