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The capital city has been on high alert for the past few days amid an escalating Pakistan-India conflict. A round the clock district control room has been set up at the Safe City Project building to coordinate responses to any emerging situation.
Last week, the district administration declared a state of emergency at the public hospitals of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It also took extraordinary security measures after Indian missiles and drones hit different parts of the country. Commandos were also deployed in parts of capitals, especially, around sensitive locations – Red Zone, comprising the Diplomatic Enclave, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Parliament House, the Supreme Court of Pakistan and key government buildings.
“Due to the prevailing situation, security measures have been heightened to a high alert level,” the police announced. Vehicles entering the Red Zone are undergoing thorough checks. The Islamabad Capital Territory police has also enhanced deployment at the city’s exit and entry points and conducted random checking of vehicles.
Police have urged citizens to avoid spreading or acting on unverified information and requested them to report any suspicious activity or unusual behaviours.
“The police force is ready to respond to any kind of emergency or situation, at any time,” city police chief Ali Nasir Rizvi told the media.
In Islamabad, scheduled leaves of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and administrative personnel under the health ministry and its subordinate institutions were cancelled last week.
Police have urged citizens to avoid spreading or acting on unverified information and requested them to report any suspicious activity or unusual behaviours. Last week, the district administration declared a state of emergency at the public hospitals of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It also took extraordinary security measures after Indian missiles and drones hit various parts of the country
A round the clock emergency quick response centre has also been established at the federal health institutions to deal with any kind of health emergency stemming from the ongoing conflict and coordinate immediate response efforts.
The vigilance successfully countered the false news of an Indian drone crashing near Faisal Mosque. Both district administration and police swiftly reached the site after the reports surfaced. Upon investigation, no evidence of a drone crash was found. The district administration then urged citizens to ignore the baseless rumours. The false alarm had come amid heightened tensions on the day India launched nearly 30 drones in various parts of the country, including Rawalpindi, apparently in an attempt to create panic.
For its part, the Civil Defence Department is preparing to handle any unpleasant incident. It conducted special drills in the wake of the escalating situation. The department has a strong civil support role during wartime and for boosting public morale. Awareness sessions have been held for citizens to prepare them for emergencies.
Earlier, after the Pak-India issue began to develop in the post-Pahalgam attack in Indian Kashmir on April 22, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the Directorate General of Civil Defence to review the measures to tackle any emergency situation. He announced plans to make the Directorate General of Civil Defence system fully operational in view of the prevailing tense situation. He also directed officials to enhance the capacity of the Civil Defence Department.
On Friday, security drills were conducted at various venues, including the Centaurus Mall, Zarghoon Plaza and Khudadad Heights. Citizens were advised to remain calm if they hear sirens going off.
The writer is a staff member. He can be reached at vaqargillanigmail.com