Punjab government faces massive security expenses ahead of PTI long march

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government is facing mounting expenses over security arrangements for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, with costs covering police deployment, food, accommodation and containers running into millions of rupees, sources said.

According to sources, around Rs50 million is being spent daily on deploying police personnel brought in from different parts of Punjab. Police personnel have received Rs450 million in daily allowances over the past 10 days, sources said, adding that expenses on their meals and accommodation are five times higher.

More than 800 containers have been placed at various locations across Rawalpindi, Taxila, Attock and along the motorway to support security arrangements.

However, sources said the owners of the containers and trucks used for the arrangements have neither been contacted nor paid for providing their vehicles.

If the sit-in continues for an extended period, the Punjab government’s total expenditure could exceed Rs5 billion, sources warned.

Credible sources further revealed that resources from civic bodies have been diverted to facilitate the deployment of police personnel.

Meanwhile, the ongoing situation is also causing separate daily financial losses to the economy, sources added.

Earlier, PTI leadership formally announced the postponement of its planned nationwide protests and long march towards Islamabad until October 4.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the party had decided to delay the march, adding that he and party workers would depart from Peshawar for Islamabad on October 4.

Sources also said another meeting was expected later in the evening, during which senior coalition leaders Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas would be formally taken into confidence.