Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari is due to arrive later today in Karachi and ahead of his arrival, Sindh Police Traffic Department has issued a traffic diversion plans that will be in place across the city.

Even with the traffic plans in place, the public has started to show a sign of concern and are planning to leave for their destinations before time to avoid any kind of problem.

It may be remembered that last month, the citizens of Lahore faced huge traffic issues when Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was in the city to attend a state dinner at Lahore Fort and The Mall was closed for the general traffic from the Airport to Azadi Chowk from 3pm to 10pm.

According to details, seven senior superintendents of police (SSP) along with 950 Traffic Police personnel will be be on duty to handle the traffic problems around the airport, mainly Shahrah-e-Faisal.

DIG Traffic Asif Aijaz Sheikh said the road leading from Terminal 1 to Star Gate would be closed for all kinds of traffic and only people attending the rally and journalists would be allowed to go to the rally area whereas general public has been advised to follow the devised traffic plan to avoid any problem.

Those travelling to the airport may use Korangi Road onward through to Korangi Industrial Area road and then Murtaza Chowrangi to Link Road, Baba Wilayat Mazar, Malir City PS, National Highway, Malir Halt, Model Colony Road and then take Jinnah Avenue to the airport.

Those wishing to travel from University Road may use Safoora Malir Cantt, Check Post number 6, through to Model Colony Road and then from Jinnah Avenue to the airport.

Those travelling from the airport will be allowed to depart “after public address of VVIP/VIPs, dignitaries and their departure” from the following routes.

• Shahrah-e-Faisal towards Saddar, Cantt, Clifton.
• National Highway Quaidabad onwards, to Landhi.
• Karsaz road (H.I.R. road) towards Liaquatabad.
• Rashid Minhas road towards Gulshan.
• Expressway towards Korangi.

The Sindh CM had said that there’s was a lot of traffic in the evening but they will try their best that it doesn’t causes inconvenience to the public.