By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi inspected the route of the city’s main Ashura procession on Tuesday alongside Additional Inspector General of Police Azad Khan and other senior civil and police officials as authorities reviewed security and civic arrangements ahead of Muharram.
The visit focused on assessing law and order, security measures, sanitation, traffic management and the provision of public services along the route of the central Ashura procession. Among those accompanying the commissioner were DIG Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah, Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso, Deputy Commissioner East Nasrullah Abbasi, DIG South Asad Raza, DIG East Farrukh Ali, Director Planning Naseem Bhutto, senior representatives of the Solid Waste Management Board, the Water Corporation, and municipal commissioners from the South and East Town Municipal Administrations.
Officials gave the commissioner a detailed briefing on preparations for Muharram processions and religious gatherings. He directed all departments to remain in close coordination with procession organisers, stay present in the field throughout the events, and ensure that arrangements for public facilities were made in consultation with organisers to avoid inconvenience.
The commissioner was informed that a comprehensive security plan had been implemented for the central procession and other major routes across the city. The plan included the installation of the required number of surveillance cameras and the establishment of monitoring control rooms to oversee security operations. Separate control rooms were also set up at the offices of deputy commissioners and police officers to coordinate the response of all relevant departments during Muharram.
Authorities said medical facilities, drinking water stalls, portable toilets and designated parking areas had been arranged at procession routes and venues for religious gatherings. Special traffic management measures had also been introduced to maintain the smooth flow of vehicles, while alternative routes had been identified to minimise disruption. The commissioner instructed officials to ensure that the public was fully informed about these alternative routes through effective publicity.
The commissioner was further briefed on civic works carried out in preparation for Muharram. These included cleaning procession routes and the areas surrounding imambargahs and mosques, repairing damaged roads, resolving sewerage complaints, removing encroachments from procession routes and installing streetlights where required. Officials said the work had been completed through the coordinated efforts of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the Solid Waste Management Board, the Water Corporation and various town administrations.
On the commissioner’s instructions, a central control room had also been established at the Karachi Commissioner’s Office to coordinate all departments during Muharram. Citizens were advised that they could seek assistance or report any emergency by contacting the control room on 021-99205634, 021-99203443, or the Rescue helpline 1299. The control room was also activated to maintain continuous communication between government departments and procession organisers throughout the observance of Muharram.
