Key Takeaways
- The government will pay Rs46.5 million per day for 1,550 containers to secure against PTI’s postponed protest.
- The cost is expected to exceed Rs1 billion as the protest has been delayed by a week.
- Punjab Police contingent has not yet arrived in Islamabad, delaying the deployment.
The government of Pakistan is set to incur a significant increase in security costs following the postponement of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad. Sources in the police have revealed that the daily rent for 1,550 containers has been set at Rs46.5 million, effectively doubling the initial cost.
Initially, the capital police requested Rs820 million to cover the rent of containers, accommodation, and meals for the police personnel arriving from Punjab and Sindh. However, with the protest now postponed for a week, the expenses are expected to rise substantially, potentially exceeding Rs1 billion.
The cost of one week for the 1,550 containers is Rs325.5 million, while for two weeks it would be Rs651 million. The police have also requested a contingent of 16,000 personnel from the Punjab Police and 2,000 from the Sindh Police. So far, only the Sindh contingent has arrived, with 2,000 personnel staying at various locations in the city.
The cost of feeding the 2,000 Sindh Police personnel is Rs1.2 million per day, with three meals a day costing Rs600 per person. For one week, this amounts to Rs8.4 million, and for two weeks, it would be Rs16.8 million. The Punjab contingent, which was scheduled to arrive by the evening of September 25, has not yet reached Islamabad, delaying the full deployment.
To transport the police force, 70 coasters and 30 double-cabin vehicles have been arranged. The daily rent for a coaster is Rs15,000, bringing the daily cost of 70 coasters to Rs1.05 million. The daily rent for a double-cabin vehicle is not specified, but it is clear that the overall cost is escalating.
The All Pakistan Goods Alliance Chairman, Nisar Hussain Jaffri, has stated that the initial demand for container rent was Rs40,000 for 40-foot containers and Rs20,000 for 20-foot containers. This was later revised to Rs30,000 per container for both sizes. The police have not yet decided whether to release or retain the containers in their custody.
The delay in the arrival of the Punjab Police contingent has raised concerns about the readiness of the security arrangements. The deployment plan was to take effect from the evening of September 26, but no Punjab Police official had arrived in Islamabad by Friday evening, according to sources.
The government is now faced with the challenge of managing the increased costs and ensuring the security of the capital city. The situation highlights the financial implications of political protests and the need for careful planning and coordination.
