TAXILA: Security in Taxila has been put on a red alert as Chinese Vice President (VP) Wang Qishan is scheduled to visit the archaeological museum and the ancient Buddhist site of Julian here on Monday (today).

During a midnight operation, all stalls, sheds and other encroachments along the Museum Road were removed.

The law enforcement agencies took control of the museum and banned entry of visitors to the facility on Sunday. Besides, heavy contingents of security forces were also deployed in the area.

The local administration in a pamphlet issued on Sunday directed owners of shops on the museum and railway roads to keep their outlets closed from 6am to 2pm on Monday. Army, Rangers and police personnel would also be deployed on rooftops of buildings along the route of the visiting dignitary from GT Road to Taxila Museum.

“The security would be unprecedented because of the prevailing situation and the nature of the Chinese vice president’s visit,” said a senior security official.

All types of vehicles, especially heavy trucks and public transport buses, on Taxila-Khanpur Road would be stopped at different points until 2pm, he added.

The Taxila-Khanpur and railway roads will also remain closed with its link roads sealed from 6am to 2pm.

A traffic officer told Dawn that commuters would be directed to use alternative routes to reach their destinations in Taxila and Khanpur.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2019