Whole airport declared red zone

Only travellers, their companions, and people working there allowed entry

KARACHI:

The airport and its adjacent areas have been declared as red zone due to security concerns following an attack on Chinese engineers.

Government has restricted access to the airport to "only those going there for a purpose," like travellers, people coming to pick or drop them or performing their duties there, said the Malir district police chief during a briefing on Monday. SSP Malir Kashif Aftab Abbasi told the media that the security arrangements have been heightened after the suicide attack on the convoy of Chinese engineers at the Karachi Airport and the shooting incident between the occupants of two luxury cars on Shahrea Faisal. The airport and its adjacent areas have been declared a red zone due to security concerns while the routes around the airport have been restricted and only those people will be allowed to enter the red zone who will be present for the purpose of coming to, going to, or performing their duties at the airport.

According to SSP Abbasi, police checkpoints have been set up at five important locations near the airport at Star Gate, CAA Club, Madam Bridge, Model Colony Mor and Rangers Chowki ASF Area, where police force will be deployed 24-hour. Police will check every suspicious person and vehicle at these places in order to prevent any untoward incident. SSP Malir requested all out-bound passengers coming to Karachi Airport to reach well before flight time so that they can go through the security steps easily and do not face any delay.

Alternative routes for locals

People of the nearby areas like Malir Cantt and Model Colony will not be allowed to take shortcut from the airport.

Instead of passing through the red zone, SSP Abbasi said, the residents of Malir Cantt, Model Colony, Memon Goth, housing societies on M9 Motorway, and other adjacent areas travelling towards the city are requested take the route of main Shahrea Faisal and Malir Halt. Similarly, he said, commuters coming from Drigh Road and going towards Malir Cantt or Model Colony, are also requested to travel towards their destination via Malir Halt instead of using Star Gate or CAA Club Road.

The SSP said that an appeal is made to all those going to the airport to carry their flight ticket and national identity card with them before entering the red zone to facilitate the security checking process. Police are always there to help the citizens in case of any difficulty or problem.