The nation will celebrate the 77th anniversary of Pakistan Day on Thursday (today) against a backdrop of impressive successes by the armed forces and law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism that have greatly improved the security environment in the country, paving the way for economic recovery and political stability. On the Day the nation will pledge to cleanse the country of all Fasadis and remain united to confront the challenges.
The day will dawn with 31 gun salute in the Federal Capital, 21 gun salute in the provincial capitals and prayers after Farj prayers will be offered in Mosques for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of the country. Military parade to mark Pakistan Day will take place today amidst tight security arrangements in the federal capital in order to avert any toward incident.
In the joint military parade to be held at the Parade Ground near Shakarparian, battalions of the Punjab, Baloch and Sindh Regiments, Special Services Group, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force and Civil Armed Forces, Armed Forces Nursing, Pakistan Rangers Punjab, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police and personnel of Chinese and Turkish armies will participate.
The president, the prime minister, all three services chiefs, foreign diplomats, cabinet members and key political figures will attend the parade. The day will begin in the federal capital with a 31-gun salute. Contingents of all three branches of the Armed Forces as well as the Rangers will present a march past to the president and the prime minister. The law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have put security on high alert in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The city police have devised a compressive security plan under which over 2,500 personnel of city police along with personnel of Rangers and Pakistan Army would perform security duties. The city police, Rangers and personnel of III-Brigade would jointly perform security duties on the eve of Pakistan Day Parade. "Around 2,500 personnel of the Islamabad police will be deployed in the outer cordon and personnel of Army would be deployed in the inner cordon," a senior security official said.
He said that the LEAs took extraordinary measures including blockage of different roads to quell terror threats and ensure safety on the occasion. "No doubt people will face problems due to closure of various roads, but we can not compromise on security in the wake of current security situation," he said, adding that the situation has been improved after Operation Zarb-e-Azb, but "we still need to remain extra vigilant to foil any untoward incident."
The official said that Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) have devised a compressive traffic plan to facilitate public and minimise problems for motorists. Close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in the adjacent areas of the venue of the parade and LEAs will also carry out aerial surveillance, especially of the parade venue, and across the city generally.
According to the plan devised by the ITP, road from Fiazabad to Zero Point, Khanna to Zero Point, Rawal Dam to Faizabad and Shakarpiran Road from helipad to Best Western Police Picket would be closed for traffic from 6:00am to 1:00pm on March 23. The motorcars coming from Lahore could reach motorway passing through Peshawar Road, GT Road Rawat T-Cross and Rawalpindi Saddar Road.
The traffic coming from airport will reach Kashmir Highway and G-sectors of the federal capital through Expressway then using Khanna Pul, Lehtrar Road and turning left from Taramri Chowk towards Rawal Dam Chowk and then towards Kashmir Chowk. The same traffic could move towards Murree through Kashmir Chowk. The traffic coming to airport and Lahore can reach Airport Chowk via 9th Avenue, Murree road, Rawal Road and then will turn left from Airport Chowk. The traffic coming from motorway will go to Aabpara, Bhara Kahu and Murree by using Kashmir Highway. Faizabad will be closed for all kinds of traffic.
Comments
Comments are closed.