Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Saturday evening ordered police to open the routes leading to Sea View and Clifton areas of Karachi.

“If people remain peaceful, police would not irk them,” the chief minister said while issuing the directives.

He was of the view that youngsters should not be barred from celebrating the New Year eve.

Murad Ali Shah also extended New Year's greeting for the public, saying "it would bring progress, prosperity and peace for people of Sindh".

Earlier, it was announced by police that several major arteries would be kept closed to traffic and heavy police deployment will be made particularly at the Sea view/Clifton beach.

As 2016 comes to an end, tight security arrangements will be put into place in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad on New Year's eve to ensure law and order and smooth flow of traffic.

Tens of thousands of people take to the streets to celebrate the New Year on the night of Dec 31.

The extraordinary security arrangements in Karachi, however, often put a damper on festivities as citizens suffer great inconvenience commuting through the city, whether they are participating in celebrations or not.

It was decided that general public will not be allowed to roam in areas leading to consulates in Clifton and Defence areas particularly at night, Inspector General South Zone Azad Khan had told Dawn.

There was, however, no specific security threat in Karachi for New Year's eve, the DIG said.

Other instructions

The DIG Traffic said that no parking will be allowed on main arteries such as Sharea Faisal, Abdullah Haroon Road, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Mai Kolachi Road, Korangi Road, M.T. Khan Road etc.

He added that heavy vehicles would be allowed to run in the areas only after 2am to prevent traffic congestion.

Traffic police warned that the use of vehicles or motorcycles without silencers or with broken silencers was strictly prohibited and anyone found using them would be handed over to local police for legal action.

Security ramped up in Islamabad

More than 2,000 police and the Rangers personnel will provide security to revelers in Islamabad on New Year's eve, police said on Friday, and 600 Traffic Police will also be deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

SSP (operations) Mir Vais Niaz and SSP (traffic) Malik Matloob devised the security and traffic plan, according to which the security personnel will be deputed at all important places, shopping centers, main markets for the safety of the public.

Police deployment will also be ensured in Blue Area, Super Market, Jinnah Super Market, F-10 and F-11 sectors, Faizabad and Aabpara market while police reserves will be on a standby to deal with any untoward situation, they stated, adding police commandos will patrol different areas.

All Eagle and Falcon squads and Rescue 15 staff would perform security duties, they added.

All the Police Stations have been directed to ensure fool proof security in their respective areas, they stated, adding that all SHOs will maintain close coordination with other police wings to ensure elaborate security.

Special squads of traffic police have also been constituted to maintain traffic flow and check wheelie, motorcycle race and bikes and vehicles without silencers. Operational police will also assist traffic police in checking rash driving on the New Year night.

The special security plan has also been devised for churches and Christian colonies.

The capital police have appealed to the citizens to avoid any activity which is detrimental to their safety.

5,000 policemen deployed in Lahore

More than 5,000 policemen will be deputed to provide foolproof security to Lahore on New Year’s eve, said Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains on Friday.

While reviewing security plan for the New Year’s eve, the CCPO directed all six divisional SPs, 35 circle deputy superintendents of police and 83 station house officers to remain alert, patrol their respective areas and carry out search operations in their respective areas.

He directed the SPs to depute 174 snipers on all high-rise and important buildings to ensure security for citizens coming out of their houses to celebrate the New Year.

He said special police teams should be constituted to monitor and avert aerial firing and one-wheeling and strict action taken against those involved in these acts.