LAHORE: The city police will issue special cards to residents living in the vicinity of Gaddafi Stadium to ensure their uninterrupted mobility during the matches of the upcoming PSL cricket tournament.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed to review the security plan for the PSL matches on Tuesday.

DIG Operations Rai Babar Saeed, CTO Malik Liaquat, SSP Operations Mohammad Naveed, SP Headquarters Malik Jamil, SP Security Bilal Zafar and PCB officials were present.

The officials discussed measures to ensure security for practice matches and other activities of cricketers.

The CCPO instructed the CTO to develop a comprehensive traffic and parking plan during the PSL and to ensure that citizens suffer the least hassle. “Residency cards will be issued to people in nearby areas of the stadium during the PSL” said the CCPO.

Mr Hameed said the Lahore police were taking every step to promote international sports. “The contribution of the Lahorites is commendable in every respect,” he said.

DIG Operations Mr Saeed asked the PCB officials to provide guest lists of the events for security clearance process to complete it before time. The meeting also agreed to continue communication between the police and the PCB officials.

POLICE STATION: The CCPO visited the under-construction building of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police station.

Iqbal Town SP retired Capt Ajmal and officers of the Buildings Department gave briefing on the project. A triple-storey building is being constructed for the police station over a two-acre area at a cost of Rs55 million.

The CCPO directed the officials that a spacious room be provided for the malkhana of police station and directed the contractor to ensure security of the building. He expressed satisfaction over building of kitchen and gym in the new building which would be handed over to the department by the end of March.

“We want to see 17 police stations in their own buildings soon,” said the CCPO. Later, the CCPO also met a delegation of parliamentarians at his office to discuss public issues and police-related matters. The delegation included provincial minister Malik Asad Ali Khokhar, MPAs Nadeem Abbas Bara, Zainab Umair, Saadia Sohail Rana, Malik Zaman, Rashida Khanam and Shawana Bashir.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2020