KARACHI: Commissioner Navid Ahmed Shaikh on Tuesday directed the police to keep Seaview beach and its surroundings open for the public with better traffic and security arrangements on New Year’s Eve.

Presiding over a meeting held to review security and traffic arrangements for New Year’s Eve, he also asked the city and police administration to ensure the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) notified by the government to contain the coronavirus.

Official sources said that it was decided in the meeting that all arrangements would follow the Covid-19 SOPs as per directives of the home department.

They said that the meeting decided that police and Rangers would be deployed at all recreational and public places, including Seaview, and important roads and streets, especially on the routes to the beach.

Officials told to take action against those who violate ban on aerial firing

The sources said that the deputy inspector general of traffic police was directed to plan traffic arrangements for the visitors going towards the beach.

They said that the commissioner asked the police to keep Seaview and its surroundings open for the public with better traffic and security arrangements on New Year’s Eve.

The sources said that the meeting also decided to impose Section 144 on aerial firing on New Year’s Eve in the city to ensure safety and protection of human lives. They said that the commissioner directed the deputy commissioners to take cognisance of aerial firing in their respective jurisdictions and take action against those who violated the ban.

The sources said that it was also decided that motorcyclists would not be allowed to ride their bikes on one wheel and action would be taken against violators.

Closure of businesses

They said that the meeting decided that all business and restaurants would be closed by 5pm on New Year’s Eve in view of the Covid-19 situation in the city.

The sources said that the meeting decided that hospitals would remain alert and fire tenders and ambulances would be available at the help centres/camps to be established by police at different points for the occasion.

They said that the deputy commissioners were also asked to ensure that streetlights were working properly and no manholes were open in any part of the city.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Additional Commissioner of Karachi-1 Asad Ali Khan, DIG-Traffic Iqbal Dara, deputy commissioners, officers concerned of the police and Rangers and officials of the health department.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2020