ISLAMABAD: The administration in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi has taken “extensive measures” to provide security to players and citizens as the city gears up to host the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 tournament next month, state-run media reported on Thursday.
Pakistan’s eastern city of Rawalpindi will host PSL matches from March 2-10. PSL matches every year draw thousands of people to stadiums in Lahore, Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi, where matches are usually held. The PSL also features apart from local cricket stars, international cricketers of renown.
The Rawalpindi administration has finalized a security plan ahead of the tournament’s matches, the Associate Press of Pakistan (APP) said in a report, amid a surge in militant attacks across the country.
“Under the security plan finalized for PSL matches, over 5,000 police personnel, including elite forces, would be deployed to provide foolproof security cover to the matches,” the APP said.
It said the security plan includes closing stations, managing traffic, and “strict surveillance” to ensure the safety of the cricketers, officials and spectators.
It said around 750 police officers would be tasked with managing the teams’ movement from the Islamabad airport across the districts of Attock and Rawalpindi.
“Snipers, along with police equipped with advanced security tools, would be stationed along critical routes and rooftops near the stadium,” the report said. “These measures are designed to ensure a secure environment for the event.”
It said Rwalpindi’s traffic police has also developed a traffic management plan to cope with the expected increase in vehicles during the matches.
Pakistani authorities have been wary of attacks targeting cricketers and cricket events, especially since 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. The incident scared international teams from touring Pakistan, forcing the South Asian country to choose the UAE as its home ground for several years before international teams started touring the country again.
Pakistan has seen a surge in militant violence, especially in its western regions bordering Afghanistan, since November 2022 after a fragile truce between the state and the Pakistani Taliban broke down.
Pakistan’s Rawalpindi administration to deploy over 5,000 cops for next month’s PSL matches
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Pakistan’s Rawalpindi administration to deploy over 5,000 cops for next month’s PSL matches
- Pakistan’s eastern Rawalpindi city will host Pakistan Super League matches from March 2-10
- Snipers, police to be stationed along ‘critical routes’ and at rooftops near stadium says state media
Minister says Pakistan plans up to four new deep-sea ports with focus on environment
- The government says it wants to build green energy and digital systems into new ports
- The move aims to ease pressure on existing ports amid efforts to boost regional trade
KARACHI: Pakistan plans to build three to four new deep-sea ports to support long-term growth in trade and logistics, placing environmental protection at the center of port development policy, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Wednesday.
The plan aims to ease congestion at existing ports and prepare for future demand as Pakistan seeks to expand its role in regional trade routes, according to a statement issued after a meeting chaired by Chaudhry.
“Planning deep-sea ports requires a balance between economic growth and environmental protection,” Chaudhry said, according to the statement issued after the meeting. “The development of the maritime sector over the next hundred years is a national priority.”
The ministry said the government was working on a commercial framework to reduce pressure on major ports, warning that alternative arrangements must be put in place before existing facilities reach full capacity.
Chaudhry said mangroves and coastal ecosystems would be protected as part of the port policy, while new facilities would incorporate green energy solutions and modern digital systems to improve efficiency and sustainability.
He added new ports would play a key role in promoting regional trade and logistics, as Pakistan seeks to modernize its maritime infrastructure and position itself as a hub for shipping and transit.
