Army tasked with ensuring tight security ahead of crown prince’s visit

The crown prince is due to arrive in Islamabad on Saturday as part of a two-day visit which is being seen as an apogee of strong ties between the two allies. (AFP)

• Elaborate measures in place before Saudi royal’s trip begins on Saturday
• Over 1,200 security pickets will be established in Islamabad, police officials say

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken measures to ensure foolproof security arrangements are in place ahead of the visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday, officials told Arab News on Friday.
“Main security arrangements have been handed over to the army,” Islamabad Capital Territory Police Spokesman, Inspector Naeem Iqbal said. “The police will assist the army and ensure a smooth flow of traffic in the city.”
He added that a traffic plan has been devised to avoid congestion on the main roads, with “commuters coming in from Rawalpindi to Islamabad encouraged to use the 9th Avenue on February 16 and 17.”
“However, the Kashmir Highway will remain open for traveling to the airport, motorways and other parts of the country,” he said.
When asked about the deployment of police personnel, he said: “Around 4,000 personnel have been deployed in the city. All the important locations are manned, including the entry and exit points of the federal capital. Over 1,200 security pickets will be established at different points of the city. People traveling around are also advised to carry their CNICs [Computerized National Identity Cards] with them.”
The crown prince is due to arrive in Islamabad on Saturday as part of a two-day visit which is being seen as an apogee of strong ties between the two allies.
He is expected to sign a range of agreements worth up to $15 billion, including deals for three power plants in Pakistan’s Punjab province and an oil refinery and petrochemical complex in the coastal city of Gwadar in the Balochistan province.