'Level-one security' for 13th ECO Summit finalised

The Ministry of Interior on Monday finalised a security plan for the upcoming 13th Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) Summit and decided to make 'level one security' arrangements for this mega event in the federal capital. The government has also announced a public holiday on Wednesday in view of security measures and with an aim at facilitating public to avoid any inconvenience during travelling in the city.
An official source said that decision to provide 'level one security' to ECO Summit to be held on March 1 [Wednesday] was taken at a meeting presided over by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The meeting has also decided to call in army contingents in connection with strict security arrangements for the meeting, besides monitoring of security arrangements through helicopters.
He said the decision to call in army contingents had been taken following the request of chief commissioner Islamabad. "The basic responsibility of security for the Summit would be with the Islamabad police, whereas army troops would act as a quick response force on the occasion," he said, adding personnel of Frontier Constabulary (FC) would also be deputed in view of foolproof security arrangements during the Summit. The official said the meeting had finalised three-layer security strategy - inner, outer and outer most cordon - for the Summit.
The sources further said the meeting also decided to install jammers to jam radio signals at the venue of the Summit. An official of the Ministry of Interior said that under the plan, foolproof security would be provided to the visiting heads of states, heads of the governments and foreign delegates. To facilitate citizens, following the directives of the interior minister, there will be a public holiday on March 1 and all educational institutions and offices will be closed down at 1:00pm on Tuesday (today), as a part of security plan for the said meeting.
He said the meeting had finalised traffic plan for twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Under the plan, the section of Kashmir Highway from Zero Point to Serena Chowk will remain closed for public from Tuesday afternoon till Wednesday night. The traffic coming from Kashmir and Murree will get access to Zero Point, Kashmir Highway, via Convention Centre and Faizabad, he said, adding that traffic coming from Golra would be diverted from Zero Point towards Fiazabad.
The interior minister said that all those measures had been taken to ensure foolproof security and for smooth flow of traffic. Nisar appealed to the residents of the both cities to cooperate with police as an important ECO conference was taking place in the city. "The ECO security is not just an administrative measure, rather it is a matter of Pakistan's image," he remarked. The meeting was also attended by the senior officials of district administration and police of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.