ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) on Friday issued a traffic advisory for convenience of road users ahead of the Pakistan Day Parade on March 23.

SSP (traffic) Farrukh Rashid finalised the plan, according to which heavy traffic will not be allowed to enter the premises of Islamabad on March 21 and 23 from 12am to 2pm.

Small vehicles coming from Lahore will use Rawat T-Cross to reach the motorway after passing through Rawalpindi Saddar Road and Peshawar GT Road. Vehicles coming from the airport Rawalpindi will use Islamabad Expressway and will be diverted from Khanna Bridge.

They may use Lehtrar Road, Captain Naeem Tufail Shaheed Chowk (Taramri Chowk), Park Road, Rawal Dam Chowk, Murree Road to reach G sectors or Kashmir Highway. Those motorists traveling for Murree may take a turn from Kashmir Chowk and travel towards their destination from Bhara Kahu.

Those going to Islamabad airport or Lahore will use 9th Avenue, Murree Road, Rawal Road and take a right turn from Koral Flyover. The motorists coming from the motorway may use Kashmir Highway to move towards Aabpara, Bhara Kahu and Murree.

Entry of heavy traffic in Islamabad banned from 12am on March 21 to 2pm on March 23

Faizabad will remain completely closed for all types of traffic while the expressway will also be closed from Khanna Bridge to Faizabad for small vehicles. Likewise, Faisal Avenue will be closed from Zero Point to Faizabad and Murree Road from Rawal Dam Chowk to Faizabad on these days.

Only those people will be allowed to move on these roads who have permission cards. Invitation cards in different colours have been issued to guests coming to attend the parade.

For instance, those having red invitation cards will reach the area after using the red marked route and parking vehicle in the red parking area. Every guest will use the route according to the colour of their card.

Those coming from Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Mangla via Islamabad Expressway will use the Shakarparian flyover to enter route number 1 for the parking area. Those coming from Peshawar via Kashmir Highway will enter their parking area after taking right from Dhokri Chowk to Murree Road and then Rawal Dam Chowk to Numaish Road.

All security and squad vehicles will be parked in black parking area established on Numaish Road.

Likewise, those coming from Islamabad will reach the parking area via Kashmir Highway, Zero Point Expressway and Garden Flyover while those coming from Rawalpindi via Murree Road and I.J.P. Road will reach the parking lot through Garden Flyover after crossing Faizabad Flyover.

Those coming from Lahore GT Road and Rawalpindi Koral Chowk via the expressway will use Garden Flyover to reach the parking area. Red 2 card holders will use entry number 1 and entry number 2 while Red 1 entry number 3 and green pass holder will use entry number 4.

SSP Traffic Farrukh Rashid appealed to the motorists to cooperate with the traffic police and military staff to avoid any inconvenience.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2021