RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi district administration and police have finalized foolproof security arrangements for Pak-New Zealand cricket matches to be played in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Rawalpindi City Traffic Police (CTP) have advised the citizens to use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience as Double Road would remain closed for the cricket matches.
Nearly 3500 personnel of Rawalpindi district Police and Punjab Constabulary have been deployed to ensure security at Rawalpindi stadium.
According to a district administration spokesman, on the directives of Commissioner Rawalpindi, Syed Gulzar Hussain Shah foolproof security arrangements have been finalized.
Three control rooms have been set up besides installation of walk-through gates and CCTV cameras. A NADRA verification counter has also been set up at Allama Iqbal Entry Gate of the stadium.
The administration has also ensured elimination of encroachments along the way.
During the matches, the bomb disposal squad of Civil Defence would remain present at the stadium and IESCO would ensure power supply during the matches. Ambulances and fire brigade vehicles would be available at all the times.
He informed that, first One Day International (ODI) match would be played on September 17 at 2 pm at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Second ODI would be on Sept 19 and third on Sept 21 at 2 pm at the same venue.
To a question he said, tickets can be bought online and from the branches of a courier service across Pakistan, and over the phone.
Only vaccinated individuals would be allowed to purchase tickets, he said adding, vaccination certificates must be shown at the time of purchase and when gaining access to the stadium.
He informed that the Commissioner and Regional Police Officer, Rawalpindi Ahmar Imran had directed the officers concerned to ensure best possible arrangements for successful conduct of the matches.
The Commissioner said that return of the international cricket matches in the country is very welcome because where they provide entertainment to the citizens, they also show at international level that Pakistan is a peaceful land besides creating positive image of the country.
The Commissioner said that all the departments including Pakistan Army, ISI, District Administration and Police are committed and to ensure implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
He said that the real stakeholders of the cricket matches are the citizens for whom all these arrangements have been finalized so that they could be facilitated.
He said that all the institutions are committed to provide a pleasant, safe and peaceful environment to the people in general and especially during the matches and all the institutions were working on war footings to ensure the security foolproof.
It is also responsibility of the people to cooperate fully with the departments concerned in the national interest and to maintain the best possible discipline so that any kind of untoward incident could be avoided.
With the help of Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies and the Islamabad administration, the district administration of Rawalpindi has completed all the arrangements for the matches.
According to a CTP spokesman, Murree Road Rawalpindi from Faizabad to Double Road would remain closed for all kind of vehicular traffic at arrival (morning) and departure (evening) of the cricket teams.
The Double Road would remain closed for all kind of vehicular traffic from start to conclusion of the cricket matches.
He urged the road users to cooperate with the police performing duties during the cricket matches. Traffic Police on the directives of Chief Traffic Officer, Rawalpindi Rai Mazhar Iqbal would make all-out efforts to regulate traffic in adjacent areas of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium where the cricket matches between Pakistan and New Zealand cricket teams to be played.
He informed that 230 Traffic Wardens, 72 Traffic Assistants, 18 Inspectors and seven DSPs would perform duties in the circle to regulate traffic and facilitate the road users.
The CTP had issued a traffic plan for the cricket matches to facilitate the citizens, he said.
The traffic coming from Rawal Dam, Islamabad towards Rawalpindi would be diverted to Expressway. The traffic would be allowed to enter Rawalpindi via Dhoke Kala Khan, Khanna and Koral.
The traffic from Rawalpindi to Islamabad would use 6th road chowk via Saidpur Road to enter Islamabad.
The traffic coming from IJP Road and 9th Avenue Chowk towards Rawalpindi would use Pindora Chungi, Katarian, Carriage Factory, Pir Wadhai Mor route to enter Rawalpindi instead of the Double Road.
He said that heavy traffic would be strictly banned in the area around the stadium during cricket matches.
The New Zealand cricket team has arrived in Pakistan after an 18-year hiatus and the fans are eager to witness the cricketers in Green go toe-to-toe against the Kiwis at their home ground.