Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The city management is preparing to start the pilot testing of its access management system installed at three entry points of the Red Zone in Islamabad.

Access management solutions deliver improved security, as well as cost and time savings. A total of five such access management points are being established to enter the Red Zone including the area in front of Serena Hotel, NADRA Chowk, Marriot Hotel, Margalla Road and from the Bari Imam side. However, three automatic barricades have already been installed at the entrances of the Red Zone at Serena Hotel, NADRA Chowk and Marriot Hotel while two are yet to be installed.

Special security tags will be issued to authorised vehicles, which will be detected by Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) system and these vehicles could enter the Red Zone without routine security checking.

The instalment of an automatic barricade will help to avoid traffic jam at police check posts whereas it will also reduce the work load of the security personnel deputed on these check posts as they will have to check only those vehicles, which will enter the Red Zone without security tags.

After 9/11, the Red Zone of Islamabad is the prime target of terrorist groups, where high profile buildings such as the Parliament House, the PM House and the President House are situated.

A meeting was held under the chair of chief commissioner Islamabad, in which it was decided that three access management points would be made operational next week on pilot test basis to check the completion and operation of these points.

A committee comprising the Additional Deputy Commissioner ICT, the Senior Superintendent of Police (Security) and representatives from NADRA and CDA have also been formed to monitor the process.

Sources informed Daily Times that in the pilot phase, only the vehicles of Islamabad Police would be issued dummy tags and after the testing phase proper tags would be issued to citizens.

Meanwhile, it was also decided in the same meeting that a feasibility study of traffic count, axle count etc. at various entry and exit points will also be conducted.

Furthermore, the CDA has been directed to formulate a project proposal for the construction of entry and exit points of Islamabad on the pattern of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA)’s entry point at Gulzar-e-Quaid. It was also advised that CDA may seek technical help from RDA in this regard.

Director Public Relations CDA, Mazhar Hussain, while talking to Daily Times said: “We are in contact with Islamabad Police and the Administration. CDA will extend its positive hands towards any effort to protect and secure the city.”

Awards: The Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan awarded cash prizes and commendation certificates to two officers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for their outstanding performance.

Assistant Director FIA, Amanullah Khan and Sub-Inspector, Mohsin Waheed received cash rewards of Rs 100,000 each along with commendation certificates.

Amanullah Khan played a leading role in the recovery of Rs 1.47 billion from various oil marketing companies.

The amount was recovered and deposited in the national exchequer in an ongoing recovery campaign of the FIA launched on the directives of the interior minister.

Similarly, Sub-Inspector Mohsin Waheed showed outstanding performance during year 2016.

Chaudhry Nisar lauded the officers’ role and said awards should be served to motivate them to further improve their performance and inspire their colleagues to win such recognition by dint of their hard work and commitment.