PESHAWAR/MINGORA: Thousands of police personnel have been deployed at worship places and markets to ensure peace and security during Ramazan.

More than 3,000 police personnel have been deployed in Peshawar for security during Razaman. Security at the exit and entry points of the city has been beefed up while teams of the bomb disposal unit and sniffer dogs have also been deployed to avert any untoward situation, according to a police spokesperson.

He said that about 1,806 police personnel would be deployed across the city, Cantonment, Rural and Saddar police divisions to protect important bazaars, markets and other places.

Four armoured personnel carriers, 30 mobile teams and 30 rider squads would check sensitive places of the city round the clock while mounted police patrol would also be ensured at busy markets. Policemen in civvies have also been deployed at the bazaars.

The spokesperson said that for the protection of more than 783 mosques in four circles of Peshawar, about 1,566 police personnel were deployed. He said that heavy vehicles would not be allowed to enter the interior city towards the end of the holy month while men would not be allowed to visit the bazaars frequented by women.

The chief traffic warden has been directed to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the month and arrange parking spaces at all the bazaars. Police officials have been directed to implement the Ramazan security plan in letters and spirit.

The Peshawar district administration has also devised a strategy to control hike in the prices of daily use items and edibles during Ramazan.

Deputy Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh said that strict monitoring of markets and bazaars would be conducted and nobody would be allowed to violate official pricelist.

He said that 12 public facilitation points were set up at various spots in the city. He said that all relevant departments would work in coordination with district administration at the facilitation points.

The official said that patrolling squads would roam marketplaces for on the spot resolution of public grievances. In addition to this, anti-begging squads have also been activated a few days ago.

In Swat, police personnel have been directed to break the fast at their duty places. According to a press release, extra police personnel have been deployed at worship places, markets, bazaars and other spots where people gather to ensure security during Ramazan.

“To ensure smooth flow of traffic in Mingora and other sub-divisional bazaars, traffic wardens and special riders have been deployed to perform duty from early morning till late evening,” said the press release.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2018