KARACHI, Nov 15: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said the city government had been putting extraordinary effort over the past five months to make the defence equipment exhibition – Ideas-2006 – a success.
Speaking about the participants’ and visitors’ easy access to the Expo Centre, where the international exhibition is to be held from Nov 21 to 24, he pointed out that the construction of a major bridge on Stadium Road and other ancillary facilities had been carried out in a record time for ensuring a smooth flow of traffic on the routes leading to the venue of the exhibition.
“A successful exhibition will send the message across the globe that Karachi is a city of peace, whereas the rapid development work for the event will help project a soft image of Pakistan,” he said.
DIG Traffic Falak Khurshid, describing security as “the overriding concern during the Ideas-2006”, unfolded the traffic plan during the event on Wednesday at a news conference which was also addressed by Director General of the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) Major-General Absar Hussain.
The DIG advised the public to follow the alternative routes to help the traffic police facilitate local and foreign guests on their way to and from the Expo Centre during these days. Citizens should avoid Sharea Faisal during rush hours, he said, adding that parking of vehicles around the venue of the exhibition, as well as along the service road around it, would be prohibited. He said Sir Shah Mohammad Suleman Road would remain closed to normal traffic from Hassan Square up to the Stadium Road crossing between 4pm and 10pm on Nov 20 and between 10am and 6pm from Nov 21 to 24.
On April 20, Habib Ibrahim Rahimtoolla Road would be off limit for trucks, mini-buses and heavy vehicles beyond the Karsaz traffic signal between 4pm and 10pm. Nevertheless, all small vehicles would be allowed to use the road up to the Amir Khusro Road crossing from where traffic would be diverted to alternative routes. University Road and Stadium Road would, however, remain open for vehicular traffic.
On Nov 21, Aiwan-i-Sadar Road would be closed from Khajoor Chowk up to Fawwara Chawk from 6pm to 10pm and no vehicles would be allowed to be parked along this road. During the time, parking along Abdullah Haroon Road from the Sindh Club intersection to Fawwara Chawk would also be disallowed.
Commuters coming from I. I. Chundrigar Road and bound for Sharea Faisal have been advised to drive on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road and turn to Club Road-Abdullah Haroon Road-Merewether Road to touch Sharea Faisal. Alternatively, they can use M.R. Kyani Road-Sarwar Shaheed Road- Bismillah Light Signal and Lucky Star route to approach Sharea Faisal.
On Nov 22, surroundings of Ibn-i-Qasim Park would be closed for parking from 5pm to midnight. Heavy vehicles, mini-buses, trucks, etc would not be allowed to move beyond Do Talwar to reach Ibn-i-Qasim Park via Shahrah-i-Iran or Hatim Alvi Road. Similar restrictions would also apply from Bilawal Chawrangi to Clifton Helipad, Ibn-i-Qasim Park and Shahrah-i-Abdullah Shah Ghazi, and from the Abdullah Shah Ghazi Mazar intersection to Clifton Helipad and Ibn-i-Qasim Park. Ambulances and vehicles of other emergency services are exempted form the restrictions.
Speaking on the occasion, Major-General Hussain held out the assurance that there would be no unusual traffic jams this time like the past, organisers of the annual event had faced criticism due to the troubles caused to citizens during the VIP movements and the relevant restrictions. Appealing general public for cooperation, he said the organisers were now seeking FM radio and TV channels’ support in keeping citizens informed of the traffic movement situation during the event.
Nevertheless, residents of areas around Expo Centre have quietly been given the message to remain extra careful and watchful about presence of unwanted people in their neighbourhoods. The intelligence agencies were already doing the necessary screening.
