Lahore: Lahore Police ensured comprehensive security arrangements at commencement of the second phase of National T-20 Cricket cup started at Qaddafi Stadium today. Capital City Police Officer(CCPO) Lahore Additional IG Ghulam Mahmood Dogar visited Qaddafi Stadium and surrounding areas to check the security arrangements made on the first T-20 match between the teams of Sindh and Central Punjab. SPs and other senior Police officers accompanied CCPO Lahore. SP Model Town Sayyed Aziz briefed the CCPO Lahore regarding the security arrangements. Ghulam Mahmood Dogar met with the Police officers and officials deputed at entry gates and different points of Qaddafi stadium for the security of the cricket teams. He directed them to remain highly alert and vigilant. Ghulam Mahmood Dogar said that security will remain at high alert during all the scheduled matches of National T-20 Cup as Lahore Police has always played pivotal role for the promotion of International and national sports events in the provincial metropolis. He said that following the previous practice, foolproof security, traffic SOPs and parking arrangements have been made by Lahore Police in collaboration with different stake holders, departments and security agencies. As many as one thousands traffic wardens were deputed to ensure smooth flow of traffic and a comprehensive division plan had been devised whereas citizens were informed well before time to avoid the route of teams during their movement in specific time. Lahore Police provided zero traffic route facility to the teams during their movement from residential places to cricket stadium and vice versa. Lahore Police had chalked out a comprehensive security plan for the National T-20 Cricket Cup as around 08 thousands Police officers and officials including 05 SsP, 21 DSsP, 53 Inspectors, 22 teams of Dolphin Squad, 20 teams of Police Response Unit and 23 vehicles of Elite Force had been deputed to provide security during these matches to ensure protection of the players. Ghulam Mahmood Dogar said that Lahore Police has earlier provided foolproof security to all the national and international sports events being held in Lahore. CCPO Lahore further said that round the clock monitoring of the residential places of teams, matches and movements in and round the Cricket Stadium has been ensured through the CCTV cameras. He said that Dolphin Squad, Elite force and Police Response Unit teams were ensuring effective patrolling around the specific areas of the city. Snipers had been deputed on the roof tops to keep an eye on all the movements during these matches. Search and sweep operations were conducted on daily basis in the city particularly around the cricket stadium and designated areas. The citizens and cricket lovers were of the view that sports and cultural activities in Pakistan particularly Lahore should continue as the positive image of Pakistan as a peace and sports loving county could be sustained in the world. Such activities also positively and directly effect the business activities and create opportunities of trade and business in the society, they added. CCPO Lahore Lahore thanked citizens and business community for their exemplary cooperation and support.
