About the security and administrative arrangements to ensure that no untoward incident takes place during the match, which is expected to be watched by some 35,000 spectators next Tuesday, Mir Hussain Ali revealed that an organising committee, headed by himself, and which includes six members of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) and a representative of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ghaffar Ali Khan, will be on hand to assist the law enforcing agencies.
The commissioner said that Muhammad Hussain Syed, Deputy Commissioner (East) is heading a steering committee, specially formed to maintain law and order in and outside the National Stadium at all entry points and meet any eventuality during the match.
Mir Hussain Ali said the security committee comprises Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of District East, SSP Traffic and Wing Commander Rangers and the deployment of security personnel would take place from 5.00 a.m., on the morning of the match. This will be in addition to extra security arrangements that have been already made at the stadium. As for the security measures in the enclosures, the Commissioner said that besides uniformed personnel, intelligence personnel in plain clothes will also be assigned to keep a vigilant eye on miscreants.
At every entry point, body search will be conducted by security guards and the ticket checking will be done by the PCB and KCCA officials. The spectators will not be allowed to bring cameras, binoculars, eatables or any hard objects along with them under any circumstance. Only the national flag of Pakistan without the stick will be allowed inside the stadium. Mir Hussain Ali further said that special arrangements are also being made for catering, and eatables will be available to the spectators at reasonable prices. About the plans for car parking and traffic arrangements, the Commissioner said a total of five parking lots have been marked for the occasion. Parking lot No 1 will be for the mediamen and government officials for which stickers will be provided wi thout any fee. For the remaining four parking lots, which will be at Steel Mills yard, Aga Khan Gate No 4, KCCA Ground (adjacent to National Training Sports and Coaching Centre) and Expo Ground near Civic Centre, Rs 20 will be charged. For parking, one sticker will be provided on every four tickets.
As for the special traffic arrangements, he said there would be no traffic allowed around the stadium. The roads leading to stadium from Civic Centre, New Town Police Station to Civic Centre, traffic intersection of Karsaz Road and intersection near Dalmia Cement Factory would be closed to all vehicular traffic. For the general public, arrangements have been made to run shuttle service from the closing points. A medical committee has been formed to meet any emergency. Four fire brigades and ten ambulances would also be present outside the stadium to meet any case of accident.
Mir Hussain Ali said for maintaining discipline during the award-giving ceremony, it has been decided that only eight persons besides chief guest will be allowed on the podium. The Commissioner said that in order to provide swift service to the media people, forty telephone lines are being established at the media centre, for the use of facsmile and internet.