RAWALPINDI: Intelligence agencies have expressed concern over presence of hawkers, bykea riders and beggars on the routes designated for dignitaries who will be arriving for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on Monday (today), though the Cantonment Board has taken action against them.

According to sources, the intelligence has suggested immediate removal of hawkers, bykea riders and beggars from the route so that no untoward incident take place. Besides, there should be a regular checking of the road by the authorities concerned.

It said that beggars are sitting on the old Airport Road side and service roads.

The intelligence has also expressed concern over the police attitude who have been deployed there but no one was trying to remove them from the road.

More than 3,500 police personnel of Elite and Dolphin Force, including sharp shooters,have been deployed around Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi to ensure the safety of foreign delegations arriving here to participate in the SCO summit being held on Oct 15 and 16.

As part of the security, snipers have been deployed on the rooftops of the buildings located along the route, while section 144 has been imposed in Rawalpindi besides banning pillion riding.

The Nur Khan Base authorities had already intimated to the district administration and City Police Officer that the bird/pigeon strikes are exceedingly risky and endangers the safety of aircraft taking off and landing on Nur Khan Airfield as well as low-level aircraft and helicopters.

A survey had also identified the locations and people who are keeping pigeons and pigeon cages in their houses, though pigeon or any type of flying birds in the vicinity of the airfield is prohibited.

The Nur Khan Base authorities had asked the deputy commissioner and CPO to take necessary actions on priority basis and to use force if necessary to remove these unauthorised pigeon cages being hazardous for the safety of flights and PAF air mobility operation.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2024