Daily Times

KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday clarified that long chains of cars followed him in Karachi despite the fact that he had asked the relevant officials not to embarrass him with a huge protocol.

After a video of the president travelling around the metropolis with over two dozen cars accompanying him went viral on social media, Dr Arif Alvi took to Twitter to say that he was given a VIP protocol from the airport to his residence in Karachi despite his request to not be given a “huge protocol”. “One or two cars in front and one or two cars behind my vehicle would have been more than sufficient for security,” tweeted the Karachi based president. “Did not happen, we have to try harder,” he added.

President Dr Arif Alvi arrived in Karachi on Friday night and was received by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Governor Imran Ismail and other significant personalities from the airport. Instead of travelling from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), he preferred a private flight for his journey. He was taken to his residence in Muhammad Ali society from the airport’s VIP lounge. After assuming office, this is Dr Alvi’s first visit to the port city.

Reportedly, the president’s caravan included at least 27 vehicles. Shahrah-e-Faisal and other adjacent roads were closed for traffic and were opened after the president had passed from the area.

The president reportedly picked up his own luggage from the conveyor belt at the airport and also queued to board the airplane rather than opting for VIP facilities.

Separately, when a Twitter user pointed out some difficulties being faced by residents around the president’s residence owing to the police mobiles stationed outside his house, President Alvi responded, “We should look into this too and not become a nuisance for my own neighbourhood where I have lived all my life.” “I do not begrudge security but when it becomes painful for the common man we should draw a line somewhere,” he added.

Later on Saturday while presiding over a meeting to review progress of federal government-funded development projects in Karachi, Dr Alvi said development projects being carried out in city in cooperation with federal government should be completed at earliest to facilitate people. “Infrastructure of Karachi should be like big cities of the world,” said Dr Alvi.

President said that Governor Sindh would monitor implementation of these projects for their timely completion. Federal Finance Minister, Asad Umer informed meeting that early release of funds for federal government funded projects in Karachi would be ensured.

Earlier on Saturday morning, President Arif Alvi visited the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi to pay homage to the Father of the Nation. He was accompanied by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani. The president laid a floral wreath at Quaid’s mausoleum, offered fateha and prayed for prosperity and progress of the country. In his remark at the visitor book, the president said that the creation of this independent Islamic state was just due to the struggle by Father of the Nation and Pakistan would be developed as per the aspirations of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Published in Daily Times, September 16^th 2018.