Daily Times

LAHORE: To avoid any security risk and any other kind of untoward incident, it has been planned that the teams of Pakistan Super League (PSL) final match will arrive at Gaddafi Stadium in a helicopter from Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel.

Reliable sources told Daily Times on Thursday that the government after consulting law enforcement agencies has finalised all arrangements regarding Pakistan Super League final match. The sources said that the teams will stay at PC Hotel on The Mall and be dropped at venue by using a helicopter, as this will reduce the security risk as well as the road congestion problems on the day.

Both the entry and exit gates from Liberty side and the Ferozepur Road side will remain closed till March 5 for the general public, while adjacent shops, restaurants and marriage halls and the Nishtar Sports Complex will also not be opened on the day.

According to sources, law enforcement agencies have been directed by the government to check biodata of those residing in the vicinity of the stadium and of their servants as well.

On the day of the final match, around 10,000 policemen along with the army and paramilitary troops will be stationed to perform special security duties around the stadium and its surrounding areas, including parking lots.

As per the security plan, the spectators will be checked at six different points by using walkthrough gates, metal detectors and sniffers before being allowed entry into the stadium. The CNICs will also be mandatory for all to enter the stadium.

About the special electricity management on the day, the sources informed this scribe that LESCO has exempted the city from any load shedding, while the stadium will be supplied power from Garden Town Grid and Shadman Grid, while some alternative arrangements of standby generators have also been made.

Sources also informed that mobile phone service would be suspended at the Gaddafi and its surrounding areas on the day.

About the parking arrangements, the sources informed that VIP spectators will park their vehicles at the PCSIR Ground, while the spectators coming from Gulberg, Cantt, Ufone Office, Mini Market, Jail Road and Main Boulevard using Sherpao Bridge will park at Liberty Market and Tariq Road (cars only).

The spectators coming from Cavalry Ground, DHA, Cantt, Johar Town, Faisal Town and Wapda Town, etc using Season Chowk crossing at Kalma Chowk will park at Liberty Market.

HKB and Jam-e-Sherin parking is for cars only after parking at Liberty Market and Sunfort Hotel is full, while spectators coming from Cavalry Bridge, Walton Road, Gulberg and Gurumangat Road using Cavalry Bridge will park at Liberty Market and HKB, the sources said, adding that the spectators coming from The Mall, Dharampura, Anarkali, Qurtaba Chowk, City Division via Ferozepur Road will park under the Muslim Town Bridge.

The spectators coming from The Mall, Iqbal Town, Cantt, Mughalpura, Harbanspura, Davis Road and Canal Road will park in the FC College’s main parking lot.