The stage is set for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) much hyped October 18 rally to be held at Bagh-e-Jinnah near the Quaid's mausoleum. The convoys of PPP workers are travelling to Karachi from throughout the country to attend a public meeting which will addressed by party's Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The provincial government has already declared a public holiday in Karachi on Saturday to mark the annual Urs of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi.
A state of the art mobile control room will be used to operate the cameras installed throughout the venue of the rally. The use of drone cameras has been prohibited. As many as 22,500 police personnel will be deployed for security at the rally while additional contingents of Rangers have also been called out. The overall security of the rally will be supervised by IGP Sindh, Ghullam Qadir Thebo.
Traffic from Saddar Dawakhana and the Corridor Three till Khudadad Flyover and Peoples Chowrangi will not be allowed. The road from Capri Cinema on MA Jinnah road will also be closed. Traffic from Shara-e-Faisal to Shara-e-Quaideen will be diverted towards Regent Plaza and Lucky Star from where vehicles can reach MA Jinnah Road. Vehicles from this point can make a left turn towards Naz Plaza and then turn right near Coast Guard Street passing through Bahadar Yar Jang Road, Holy Family Hospital, Soldier Bazaar and head towards Lasbela and Nazimabad.
Vehicles travelling from University Road to MA Jinnah Road can use Nipa Chowrangi, Drig Road, Shara-e-Faisal, Hasan Square, National Stadium and Karsaz. Traffic from Soharb Goth to Teen Hati, Saddar and Cantt will turn left from Teen Hati towards Jail Chowrangi, Shaheed-e-Milat Road, Shara-e-Faisal and Baloch Colony. Traffic from Nazimabad to Saddar or Cantt will turn right on Lasbela Chowk towards Garden and Makki Masjid.
Over 9,000 vehicles coming to Karachi from Hyderabad District will be parked at National Stadium, National Coaching Center, Tipu Sultan Road, Baloch Colony, China Ground, Kashmir Road, KMC Sports Complex, Noor Ground and Khalid bin Waleed Road. Vehicles from Mirpurkhas district will be parked at Stadium Road next to Aga Khan Hospital and Home Economics College.
As many as 4,000 vehicles from Larkana Division will be parked at Civic Center Road and Hasan Square Milk Plant. Vehicles from Sukkur Division will be parked at Jail Loop, Dawood Engineering College, Islamia College, from Jail Chowrangi to Medicare Shaheed-e-Milat Road and Khatoon-e-Pakistan College. Other designated parking areas in the city include: SRTC Ground, Gul Plaza, the plot opposite Karachi Grammar School, BMB School, Railway Ground, City Station, Army Welfare Trust Ground, FTC Building, Railway Ground Kala Pul, Kokan Ground Gulshan-e-Iqbal and YMCA Ground.