In anticipation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, significant security measures have been implemented in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Authorities have ordered the closure of restaurants, wedding halls, cafes, and snooker clubs for five days, starting from October 12 to 16. Police Station House Officers (SHOs) are actively collecting guarantee bonds from business owners, and all cash-and-carry marts will also be closed during this period.
Furthermore, due to the heightened security surrounding the summit, suspects held at Adiala Jail will not be presented in court for five days, leading to the rescheduling of important court cases after October 16.
To enhance security, commandos and sniper shooters will be stationed on the rooftops of multi-story buildings across the cities. Additionally, a complete ban on pigeon and kite flying has been imposed within a 3-kilometer radius of the Noor Khan Chaklala Airbase. Police operations have commenced to remove pigeon nets from rooftops, with the assistance of female officers, resulting in the demolition of nets from 38 rooftops as part of a broader effort to ensure safety.
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A three-day public holiday has been declared in Islamabad and Rawalpindi from October 14 to 16 to facilitate the SCO summit, which will be held on October 15 and 16 in Islamabad. This decision was ratified by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure the smooth organization of the event.
The SCO summit is significant, as it will be chaired by Pakistan and attended by various heads of state, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang. This summit represents a crucial Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance that has expanded since its establishment in 2001.
Notably, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to visit Pakistan for the SCO summit, marking his first trip to the country on October 15. This visit will be historic, as it will be the first by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years, with the last visit by Sushma Swaraj occurring in December 2015.
These security measures and the high-level diplomatic presence underscore the importance of the SCO summit in fostering regional cooperation and dialogue among member states.
