SCO Summit in Islamabad: Security Measures and Closures
Islamabad and Rawalpindi are preparing for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit with heightened security measures. From October 12 to 16, restaurants, wedding halls, cafes, and snooker clubs will be closed. Station House Officers are collecting guarantee bonds from business owners to ensure compliance. Cash-and-carry marts will also be closed during this period.
Security measures extend to the judicial system, with suspects at Adiala Jail not being presented in court, and important cases rescheduled for after October 16. Commandos and snipers will be stationed on rooftops, and a ban on pigeon and kite flying is in place around Noor Khan Chaklala Airbase. Authorities are removing pigeon nets from rooftops, with 38 already cleared.
A three-day public holiday from October 14 to 16 has been announced to facilitate the summit, closing educational institutions and government offices. The summit, chaired by Pakistan, will take place on October 16 and 17, with leaders like Chinese Premier Li Qiang attending. Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will visit Pakistan for the summit, marking the first visit by an Indian foreign minister in nearly nine years.
About the SCO
The SCO is a major Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It now includes India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia as observers.
Doubts Revealed
SCO Summit -: SCO stands for Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which is a group of countries that work together on issues like security and trade. The summit is a big meeting where leaders from these countries come together to discuss important topics.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi -: Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan, and Rawalpindi is a nearby city. Both cities are important and often have big events like the SCO summit.
Commandos and snipers -: Commandos are specially trained soldiers who handle difficult and dangerous situations. Snipers are soldiers who are experts at shooting targets from a long distance. They are used to keep the area safe during important events.
Noor Khan Chaklala Airbase -: This is a military airbase located near Islamabad. It is used by the Pakistan Air Force and is an important place for security during the summit.
Public holiday -: A public holiday is a day when schools, offices, and many businesses are closed so that people can have a break or celebrate an event. During the summit, there will be a public holiday to reduce traffic and ensure security.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang -: Li Qiang is a high-ranking official in China, similar to a Prime Minister. He is one of the leaders attending the SCO summit.
Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar -: S Jaishankar is the person in charge of India’s foreign relations. He will be visiting Pakistan for the summit, which is significant because it’s the first visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan in nine years.