- The official says the metro bus service will operate normally until October 13.
- Bus service will remain suspended between October 14 and 17.
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit is scheduled to be held on October 15-16 in the capital.
ISLAMABAD: Metro bus services will remain closed in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi for four days, starting tomorrow (October 14) until Thursday due to the high-level Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the federal capital.
The decision to suspend bus operations was taken based on the directions of the district administration, an official said, adding that the transport service will operate normally till tonight (October 13).
This comes as one of several measures taken by the government to ensure that the event of global importance runs smoothly and without any untoward situation.
Islamabad is scheduled to host a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with senior foreign leaders on October 15-16.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the CHG meeting as the current president.
The Prime Ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as the First Vice President of Iran and the Indian Minister of External Affairs will visit Pakistan to represent the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The Prime Minister of Mongolia, as an observer state, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, as a special guest, will also participate in the meeting.
The summit will discuss ongoing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, environment, social and cultural ties, and review the organization’s performance.
In a bid to maintain law and order situation during the SCO summit, Article 144 was imposed in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Karachi till October 17.
Exercising powers conferred under Article 144, the Punjab government banned all types of political rallies, rallies, sit-ins, marches, demonstrations, backseat riding, aerial shooting, flying of pigeons, use of drones and use of laser lights from October 10 to 17. In Rawalpindi.
Separately, regional authorities also imposed restrictions on public gatherings under Article 144 in five regions for three days due to security concerns.
The districts include Dera Ghazi Khan state, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and Kot Addu.
While in Karachi, Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi imposed a complete ban on any kind of public gatherings within the territorial limits of the provincial capital under the powers delegated by the Sindh Home Ministry.
Meanwhile, the federal government has declared a three-day general holiday for educational institutions in the Federal Capital Territory – from 14 to 16 October.
On October 10, officials also announced the closure of marriage halls, restaurants and cafes for five days – from October 12 to 16 – in the twin cities.
In addition, notices have been issued to traders and hotel owners by police, warning that any violations will result in penalties.