Daily Times

LAHORE: In order to review security arrangements for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final scheduled on March 5 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order was held on Thursday which was presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said, “The PSL final will be a mega event in Lahore we need to work round-the-clock to make it successful by ensuring safe and peaceful environment for final match through foolproof security arrangements.”

He added: “We all need to play our part and make the standard arrangements in order to make this event successful with collective efforts. It is the desire of whole nation to hold the mega event in Lahore and we have full support Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa in this regard.”

Shahbaz Sharif said that such emergency situations always demanded extraordinary initiatives. “The way you all are working to make this event successful gives us a hope that we will do it perfectly as when there is a will there is always a way.”

He directed the departments concerned and authorities to perform their duties efficiently in close collaboration with one another and ensure marvellous arrangements in every manner. He directed Provisional Cabinet Committee on Law and Order to review all the arrangements regularly and said that he would evaluate them himself.

He directed officials concerned to arrange alternative traffic routes for public to spare them from any inconvenience. Also free bus shuttle services will be provided for the spectators to take them to the stadium. The chief minister also directed the authorities concerned to take the best cleanliness measures in and outside the stadium and ensure uninterrupted power supply on entry and exit points of the stadium.

The meeting also decided to take that beef up security of mosques, churches, imambargahs and other worship places. “We are taking every possible step for the safety of life and property of public as we have to make this event successful.”

Later, the interior secretary and the Lahore commissioner briefed the participants of meeting on security and other necessary arrangements.

Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Rana Mashood Ahmed, Ayub Gadhi, Syed Raza Ali Gillani, Jahangir Khanzada, Adviser Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Special Assistant Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Adviser Dr Umer Saif , chief secretary, inspector general of police, senior officials of civil, military and law enforcement agencies and secretaries of departments concerned attended the meeting.