KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the concerned authorities on Thursday to make foolproof security arrangements for the T20I series between Pakistan and West Indies in Karachi.
CM Murad issued the directives while presiding over a meeting to review the preparations of the forthcoming matches on April 1, 2 and 3.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Jam Khan Shoro, Syed Nasir Shah, Sindh Rangers DG Major General Mohammad Saeed, IG of police AD Khowaja, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Home Secretary Kazi Shahid Parvez, Karachi Additional IG Mushtaq Maher, and other concerned officers.
The Sindh CM congratulated all the participants of the meeting and other concerned institutions and officers for holding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final successfully. “It was the success of each and every one of you. We all have proved that we can hold the best events in this city and anywhere in the province,” he said, and added, “It was the success of Pakistan.”
The chief minister said that PSL arrangements were excellent but it was time to improve further so that the spectators could be saved from the long queues.
On the recommendation of the Sindh Rangers DG, Murad nominated the people in charge of different tasks. The South DIG was made the in charge of hotel security, DIG of Traffic for traffic routes, and DC of East for parking arrangements.
It was decided that the drinking water arrangements would be made in abundance. The PCB was urged to make more arrangements for food stalls.
Murad was briefed that the matches would start at around 7:30 to 8 pm. The chief minister responded that the SSC examinations were also going to start which is why necessary arrangements should be made to facilitate the students to reach the examination centres. “Due to the three days of matches, some roads may be closed but this closure at any cost should not affect the examination process,” he directed.
The meeting was told that the stickers for parking were made different for every day. The colour schemes for each day would be separate and the stickers would indicate the place of parking, the attendees were briefed. The chief minister urged them to issue a minimum number of VVIP stickers. ‘We have to discourage the VVIP culture,” he told.
All the participants also thanked the chief minister for taking a personal interest in the PSL match and made it a historic event. The participants hoped that the West Indies matches would also be historic.
Murad told participants that it was the success of the people of Sindh and Pakistan that international cricket had returned home. He directed the local government to coordinate with Karachi mayor and get the city decorated with photos of cricketers.