LAHORE: In the wake of the Raiwind blast, the provincial government reviewed on Friday security arrangements for two semi-finals of the third edition of the Pakistan Super League to be played in Lahore on March 20 and 21.

Chaired by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, a high-level meeting thoroughly discussed the security plan for the two fixtures to be played at the Qaddafi Stadium and the route for the players from their hotel up to the venue.

The stadium had hosted the final of the second edition of the T20 tournament in last March under a five-tier security cover for the players and the venue.

Mr Sharif said security and cleanliness arrangements should be better this time than the last year so that the enthusiasts get a chance to witness the best cricket leading to revival of the international cricket in the country.

“The enemy does not want the nation to joy but we have to fail the nefarious designs with our collective efforts and vision,” a reference to subversive activities by RAW, secret agency of neighbouring India whose one sleuth, Kulbushan Jadhav, had been caught from Balochistan a couple of years ago. The chief minister said departments would have to make the best arrangements with their collective efforts and by maintaining a close liaison with each other.

He directed the cabinet committee on law and order to closely supervise every step for security and on the spot monitoring of the arrangements.

The meeting also reviewed arrangements for uninterrupted supply of electricity inside and outside the stadium, on the routes of the players and in the city.

It decided that special shuttle bus service would be plied to carry cricket fans free of cost from parking areas set up a couple of kilometres away from the stadium to check any untoward incident through planting of explosive material in any vehicle.

The meeting strongly condemned the Raiwind blast and paid tributes to sacrifices of police officials and other martyrs. It also prayed for the departed souls.

An interim report of the Raiwind blast was also presented in the meeting.

Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Ayub Gadhi, Bilal Yasin, Jehangir Khanzada, Khwaja Imran Nazir, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi, the chief secretary, additional chief secretary (home), the inspector general of police, secretaries of the concerned departments and other officials attended the meeting.

Newspaper.Lahore:LatestNews