Five-tier security planned for PSL final participants
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LAHORE: Both the teams contesting Pakistan Super League final match in the provincial metropolis will be accorded five-tier security to avert any eventuality, decides the Punjab government.
The provincial cabinet committee on law and order which met here on Monday with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the chair decided to provide the PSL final participants security almost equal to that of heads of states.
The match will be played at Gadhafi Stadium on March 5.
A senior official who attended the meeting, told Dawn that usually the VVIPs were offered three-tier security cover, but for the players and others it would be five-tier during their travel to and from the stadium.
The official said other than match timings, the players would be given “box security” which meant that only those person(s) would be allowed access to them who had been pre-determined and authorised to meet them. The players would be under security rings 24 hours, he added.
The meeting decided that bio-metric identification of all those coming to the stadium to watch the match would be mandatory and no one would be allowed entry without showing his or her Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
The spectators would be checked using walk-through gates, metal detectors and sniffers before being allowed entry into the stadium, the official said.
Police and army contingents would be deployed in and around the stadium, while no parking would be allowed within 400 yards of the venue.
The law enforcers have been directed to check bio-data of those residing in the vicinity of the stadium and of their servants as well.
The chief minister appealed to the nation to support the government’s efforts for making the PSL final a success.
He also asked the agencies concerned to ensure the best coordination among themselves to implement the security plan, besides an effective monitoring system.
He said he would daily review the security plan for plugging loopholes, if any.
Meanwhile, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has announced that the provincial capital will be exempted from loadshedding on March 5, while the Gadhafi Stadium will be supplied power from Garden Town and Shadman grids. Besides, arrangements for standby generators will also be made.
Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2017
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Comments (41) Closed
Feb 28, 2017 10:33am
Only 50-60 thousand people who can afford will watch in person, the rest of the nation will still watch on TV independent of the place, so bottom line you are doing all these strictest security for 50-60 thousand who will watch in person. Still the message will go out that security is so bad, that whole city area got frozen for any other activities to provide security, which will not be possible for every game in future. Had they created security without paralyzing the area, then players would have trusted that future games are secured in normal life around stadium, as such fool proof security not possible for every game in future. This special security is more for PM who will not be there for every game.
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Feb 28, 2017 10:45am
this is too much
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Feb 28, 2017 10:50am
An absolute waste of public money and resources.
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Feb 28, 2017 10:54am
Looks like the security arrangement of the final is going to cost more than the prize money of the tournament, such is our business model.
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Feb 28, 2017 11:09am
Provide five tier security to the aam public in all over pakistan also who is killing in day to day terrorist attack other then VVIP and one some choosen day .
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Feb 28, 2017 11:10am
First make agree to other country players, if they not participate it will be no use to play final in Lahore.
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Feb 28, 2017 11:10am
Pakistan needs to uproot the source of the problem, all this detail will def make foreigners uncomfortable surely.
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Feb 28, 2017 11:12am
Spectators will be equal risk.what actions are taken for them?
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Feb 28, 2017 11:17am
BRAVO to all the govt. officials who have stepped up to enforce stringent security measures for our visitors, fans and players who can be sure no stone will be unturned when it comes to their safety and security!
Inshallah, PSL in Lahore will be a resounding success!
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Feb 28, 2017 11:19am
One suggestion to the authorities: small drones above the stadium fixed with video surveillance to monitor the entire stadium and its parameters as a preventive security measure.
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Feb 28, 2017 11:27am
All the best LAHORE. Wishing lots of smiles and happiness for Lahories and cricket fans
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Feb 28, 2017 11:43am
If this much concern, effort, resolve and determination is shown by the provincial & federal governments and the army top brass (through apex committees), we could surely secure the 'normal' and 'routine' lives of ordinary citizens.
Holding one such mega event by implementing curfew-like security arrangements in the provincial metropolis is not going to serve any end.
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Feb 28, 2017 12:06pm
Good, now international team will come to Pakistan thinking it is 'Safe'.
That level of security alone will ring alarm bells to anyone in sane mind that this is the most dangerous place in the world and rather than performing in the match concentrating on the ball that is going to be bowled to them, their ears and eyes will be on every small noise coming from the stands!
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Feb 28, 2017 12:07pm
Wow... is this really required? waste of every single resource I can think of.
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Feb 28, 2017 12:22pm
Is it wise to disclose such minute details of the security arrangements?
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Feb 28, 2017 12:27pm
I think people are missing the point here. The aim of hosting the final is not to cut cost because considering all the security arrangements, the cost will most likely be the same (actual and economic costs). The aim of hosting the final is to make a statement, to revive international cricket back in Pakistan. By hosting the final in Lahore, it will be a step towards reviving international cricket in Pakistan. therefore, hosting this final is very important for cricket Pakistan because it is against many parties interest that cricket does not come back to Pakistan. Think about it.
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Feb 28, 2017 12:34pm
All this for eight foreign players....
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Feb 28, 2017 12:38pm
Lahore authorities are risking lives to satisfy their ego. Stop terrorists from attacking each and every location in the country, then International cricket will definetly return to Pakistan.Cricket is not going to return as the world knows u won't give five tier security in every match and there are always loopholes for a suicide bomber to intrude.
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Feb 28, 2017 12:53pm
Mean while in India few police cars with few officials are enough. Matches are played with Australian to South African etc., international teams with no problem.
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Feb 28, 2017 01:01pm
Apart from being extremely stubborn for a stupid cause and jeopardizing many lives, a bad incidence will go long way in creating negative publicity. Some extremely short sighted and money minded people are sitting at top levels.
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Feb 28, 2017 01:10pm
Way to laying out this detailed plan in public for potential miscreants!
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Feb 28, 2017 01:27pm
@Faisal alam are you trying to say that local players do not deserve security also?
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Feb 28, 2017 01:39pm
All this proves that situation is not normal in Pakistan. And international Cricket may not come to Pakistan for long long time.
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Feb 28, 2017 01:54pm
@Shayan
It is absolutely childish to assume that by hosting one T20 match, international cricket can be revived. Try expanding the logistics and security cost of this 5 tier whatever security system (which is definitely not cheap) for even a short tour say, 2 tests, 3 ODIs and 2 T20 matches?!! Do keep in mind that the teams usually arrive 7-10 days before the series to acclimatize and play warm up matches. Think about it!
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Feb 28, 2017 02:00pm
The cost of security will surpase the cost of the whole tournament! apart from paralysing the whole city for 5 days. Shops around the area will also lose business as they are ordered to be closed down. All this for a match with local players.
Not worth the risk and money.
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Feb 28, 2017 02:12pm
@Raj
No wonder the Australians finished the test match in 3 days.
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Feb 28, 2017 02:14pm
Security is for international players and VIPs who will have the liberty to drive right to the stadium without their car going checked. On the other hand common public will have to park their cars probably far away and have a good walk.
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Feb 28, 2017 02:26pm
This is not about cricket or players. It's about Pakistanis uniting against terrorism and violence. It's about he nation coming together and standing United.
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Feb 28, 2017 02:37pm
Why Security was not given to the SriLankan team in 2008?
Pakistan is reaping the benefits of its own security lapses.
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Feb 28, 2017 02:45pm
need proper supervision to beat terrorism .good news for pakistan cricket !!!!
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Feb 28, 2017 02:56pm
@Raj Why all the hate yaar?? True Cricket lovers of India always support Pakistani Cricket. Don't you like to see a thriller between India Pakistan and seeing India win. How happy would you be in that case.
Let go hate man you are also a Child of Sindh like all of us. Love from Pakistan.
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Feb 28, 2017 03:17pm
Plan and Protect every citizen of this country not only President, PM and especial people. you are taking big risk by organizing this game in Lahore, Pakistan.
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Feb 28, 2017 03:28pm
When things go to normal and there are regular matches, you will not see this kind of arrangments. Now the government is little too conscious and they should be!! I am very happy for PSL, if I was in Pakistan definitely gone for the match, although Lahore is out..
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Feb 28, 2017 03:31pm
a city locked and cut off from other parts of the province and that province cut off from other province, I WISH IF THAT SENDS A MESSAGE OF 'you are safe here so come and play in Pakistan.' People thinking on this line live in a fool's paradise (sorry for using this over used phrase in Pakistani English). The players need to see the city and the country. If they stay in their hotel 24/7, that is not an attraction at all and is not a good message.
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Feb 28, 2017 03:58pm
So much of aggressive protection would not send a positive indication to international teams. This game will go through, but will it give confidence to international team?. Its doubtful.
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Feb 28, 2017 04:07pm
@Pakistani . good one..clever comeback. Best wishes from India, hopefully one day we can return to Ind vs Pak again.
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Feb 28, 2017 04:21pm
Providing security in Lahore is important, but what is more concerning is that the Finals are being played on 5th March, just two days after a Qualifier in Dubai. Will that short time be enough for a team to recuperate after travel, jet lag etc ?
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Feb 28, 2017 04:43pm
@Pakistani that's match. Here we discuss about security. Now Australia playing, before that Bangladesh and England played in India. No 5 step security arrangements.
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Feb 28, 2017 05:39pm
@Awes Games r not just played for business but also for the entertainment of people which is priceless.
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Feb 28, 2017 05:53pm
Shahbaz proved as Lion (PMLN election symbol) by approving PSL final in Lahore on 5th March. He has pronounced that the government is neither timid nor scared. 5 tire-securities are unprecedented and most appreciated. Few questions, if not annoying (a) if no foreign player comes then will Pakistani players provided same 5-tipres-security? (b) How the spectators who will be in thousands and that too from all over Lahore will be coming to the stadium so how 5 tire- securities can be provided to each and every individual in each corner of Lahore? Important clarification must be understood in quite crystal clear terms that 5 tire-securities provided on 5th March so it is nether before nor after. I wait for the answers and then will comment further again. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi/Kuwait/ zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Feb 28, 2017 06:38pm
@Raj
Wait for the ISIS to open its targets beyond Pakistan and you will know the gravity of situation. Hope that never happens and that Pakistan is able to descimate it with its new military operation .
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