KARACHI: All restaurants and business centres across Karachi will close at 8PM as part of security arrangements and to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on New Year’s Eve.
The Karachi Traffic Police have decided not to close any roads in the city on New Year’s Eve. All roads leading to Seaview Beach and other public places will remain open.
The Seaview Road will, however, be made one-way from McDonald’s to the Village Restaurant. Traffic heading to Seaview can exit Edhi Avenue to Do Darya at Khayaban-e-Ittehad.
The ban on aerial firing ban will remain enforced and violators will be booked for attempted murder. The police have set up a separate helpline for complaints of aerial firing and citizens can send their complaints.
Motorcycle racing and drifting and one-wheeling have also been banned. The city’s administration had said restaurants would have to close by 5PM but later that was extended till 8PM.
The decision to close all businesses earlier on the evening of December 31 was made at a meeting presided over by Commissioner Karachi Navid Ahmed Sheikh.
“Owing to security reasons and on the request of Police Department, I am directed to convey to you the direction of Commissioner Karachi Division to please ensure the closure of all the restaurants and business places at 08:00 PM on the eve of New Year 2021,” read a letter written by the assistant commissioner (General) to all the deputy commissioners of the city.
The commissioner had further directed the police to keep Seaview beach and its surroundings open for the public on the occasion of New Year and called for security and traffic arrangements.
He instructed police and city administration to ensure the implementation of the prescribed SOPs to halt the spread of the coronavirus. He issued directives for taking strict action against those indulging in aerial firing and one-wheeling.
