KARACHI, Nov 19 The routes of two public transport vehicles passing through an area in Keamari where oil installations are located have been changed and a ban under Section 144 of the criminal procedure code has been imposed on movement of vehicles in the oil installation area.

The decision was taken in the wake of what was described by police as an abortive attack on an oil depot in the area on September 14.

The routes of Aiwan coach and minibus No 'R-1' have been changed, according to a notification.

The Sept 14 attack was followed by a series of meetings between the stakeholders comprising Oil Companies Advisory Committee, Terminals Association of Pakistan and All Pakistan Tankers Owners Association and law-enforcement agencies to chalk out a comprehensive security plan for the area.

Main business activities in the area are related to petroleum products, edible oil, sensitive chemicals, exportable molasses, ethanol, etc.

The area has storage facilities, ranging between 1,500 tonnes and maximum 15,000 tonnes, for petroleum products and other hazardous materials.

The movement of the two public transport vehicles in the oil installation area was cause for concern, sources told Dawn.

Consequently, a new security plan was devised and was put in place on Nov 5 by police authorities.

The office of the secretary of the district regional transport authority, transport and communication department of the city district government Karachi issued a notification on Nov 5 cancelling the route permits of the two public transport vehicles.

The notification said “In view of the recommendation of the DIGP traffic and decisions made in the meeting held on October 27 under the chairmanship of the secretary, home department, government of Sindh, the operator of the public transport routes 'Aiwan Coach' and minibus route no 'R-1' are hereby directed to stop the operation of route plying through Keamari oil terminal road.

“Alternatively, they may follow the route alignment via Shirin Jinnah Colony, Tara Chand Road, Massan Road turn towards right onto M.A. Jinnah Road and vice versa after curtailing the Keamri oil installation area.

“Rest of the journey will remain unaltered,” the notification said.

“The amendment is being made in the interest of the general public and security of vital oil installation area [in] Keamari,” the notification added.

Subsequently, on Nov 18, the Sindh government issued a notification saying that “the government of Sindh in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 144 CrPC is pleased to impose ban on plying of public transport vehicles on specific roads from Native Jetty Bridge to Biliwal Chowrangi via M.A Jinnah Road, Keamari No1 Chowrangi left to Sharea Ghalib Road (main oil installation area road to Bilawal Chowrangi) with immediate effect for a period of 30 days”.

The SSP of Keamari, Amir Farooqui, told Dawn that he had written to the KPT authorities to construct a wall around the oil installation area so that the entire area could be properly guarded from any type of intrusion.