06 October 2004	Wednesday	20 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 5: The Traffic police will close certain roads for traffic as part of its plan to beef up security on Wednesday around the National Stadium during the cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

According to the traffic police, all routes leading to the National Stadium would be closed for traffic from 7am until the end of the match. However, a free shuttle bus service would be available for spectators from the Expo Centre near Hasan Square to the stadium.

Similarly, motorists possessing parking stickers, would be allowed to proceed to the stadium. Five diversion points would be made, from where vehicles would be diverted and not allowed to proceed towards the stadium.

The police would stop traffic from moving beyond the PSO petrol station, besides the Aga Khan Hospital, onto the Stadium Road and would divert it to alternative routes.

Similarly, Sir Shah Suleman Road from Hasan Square intersection towards the stadium would also be closed for traffic. However, traffic on the main University Road would run uninterrupted.

Heavy traffic will be prohibited on the Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road from Karsaz traffic signal till the Sharea Faisal. However, cars, taxis, yellow cabs, rickshaws and motorcycles would be allowed to use the road up to Ameer Khusro Road crossing, from where they would be diverted onto alternative routes.

All sort of traffic coming from the Rashid Minhas Road from Dalmia Cement Factory would be also diverted and not allowed to use the road. Traffic would also be interrupted at the KDA Chowrangi located behind the National Stadium in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

The traffic police said that ambulances and other vehicles on emergency duty would be exempted from the diversion policy. The public has been asked to keep in mind the diversion points and extend maximum cooperation to the traffic police. The public has also been asked to park their vehicles at the Expo Centre at the available parking facility.

Besides, police would be deployed in and around the stadium to avert any untoward incident. Mobile vans of many police stations have been directed to reach the stadium in the morning. These mobile vans would not be able to patrol their respective areas.

Similarly, policemen at many police stations have been directed to report to their field officers in or around the stadium in the morning on Wednesday. However, policemen deployed for the security of individuals, were not withdrawn for duty at the National Stadium, said police sources.