ISLAMABAD: The postponement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned march on the federal capital is expected to substantially increase the government’s security expenditure, with the rental cost of containers alone estimated at Rs46.5 million per day.
According to police sources, the total cost of arrangements made to prevent the protest could exceed Rs1 billion after PTI deferred its demonstration by approximately one week.
The party had initially announced nationwide protests beginning September 27. In response, Islamabad police began preparations and requested Rs820 million to cover container rentals, accommodation, meals and transportation for additional police personnel expected from Punjab and Sindh.
The original budget covered a week of security operations, as authorities anticipated that the protest and long march would conclude by October 4. The revised protest schedule has created uncertainty over how long the arrangements will need to remain in place.
Container Rentals Account for Major Share of Security Costs
Police arranged 1,550 containers to restrict access to Islamabad and manage movement along major routes.
All Pakistan Goods Alliance Chairman Nisar Hussain Jaffri said the alliance initially sought daily rental payments of Rs40,000 for 40-foot containers and Rs20,000 for 20-foot containers.
The proposed rate was subsequently revised to Rs30,000 per container, regardless of size.
At that rate, the daily rental bill for 1,550 containers amounts to Rs46.5 million. Keeping them for one week would cost Rs325.5 million, while a two-week period would increase the amount to Rs651 million.
Jaffri said the alliance had approached police after PTI postponed its march to determine whether the containers would be released. Authorities had not yet decided whether to return them or retain them for the rescheduled demonstration.
Islamabad Seeks 18,000 Additional Police Personnel
The capital police requested reinforcements comprising 16,000 personnel from Punjab Police and another 2,000 from Sindh Police.
The Sindh contingent has already arrived in Islamabad and is being accommodated in marquees at the Police Lines Headquarters, Faisal Mosque and the Community Centre in Sector G-13.
Each visiting officer is being provided three meals daily at an estimated cost of Rs600 per person.
Feeding the 2,000 Sindh Police personnel therefore costs approximately Rs1.2 million each day. The expenditure would reach Rs8.4 million over one week and Rs16.8 million over two weeks.
The requested Punjab Police contingent, however, had not reached the capital by Friday evening.
Police sources said the 16,000 personnel were originally expected to arrive by the evening of September 25, ahead of a deployment plan scheduled to begin the following evening.
If the full contingent arrives, its estimated daily food bill will be Rs9.6 million, equivalent to Rs67.2 million for one week.
Transport and Hotel Arrangements Add to Expenditure
Authorities have also arranged approximately 70 coasters, 30 double-cabin vehicles and buses to transport police personnel between their accommodation and assigned duty locations.
The daily rental rate for a coaster is Rs15,000, placing the combined cost of 70 vehicles at Rs1.05 million per day.
The 30 double-cabin vehicles cost Rs10,000 each per day, adding another Rs300,000 to the daily bill.
Accommodation arrangements include 175 rooms booked across 13 hotels in different sectors of Islamabad.
These bookings are intended for 246 inspectors, 58 deputy and assistant superintendents of police, superintendents of police, 10 senior superintendents of police and eight deputy inspectors general of police.
Of the total accommodation, 157 rooms in 11 hotels have been reserved for officers ranging from inspector to superintendent of police.
The daily rental cost of these rooms is Rs754,500, amounting to Rs5.2815 million over one week.
The rental expenses for the buses and the remaining 18 hotel rooms reserved for senior officers were not immediately available.
Goods Alliance Raises Concerns Over Seized Vehicles and Crews
Alongside the rising security costs, the All Pakistan Goods Alliance has raised concerns about the detention of transport vehicles and their crews.
Jaffri said police in Islamabad and Punjab had taken possession of at least 2,700 vehicles along with their three-member crews.
According to him, approximately 400 vehicles and their crews remained unaccounted for, while the crews of the other vehicles were being kept at police stations.
He said the drivers and other workers had not been formally arrested but were prevented from leaving police stations except to obtain meals.
Police had also taken possession of their mobile phones, vehicle documents and keys, he added.
Sources said the crews were being retained so they could move the container trucks when required, as operating the large vehicles requires specialised driving skills.
The alliance reported that vehicles and crew members had been detained in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Jhang, Hasanabdal, Attock, Kamoke, Taxila, Jhelum, Mianwali, Chakwal, Faisalabad and Gujrat.
Of the 2,700 vehicles taken into custody, approximately 450 were carrying commercial goods, including medicines, food products and chemicals.
With the protest delayed and authorities yet to decide whether to release the containers, the duration and final cost of Islamabad’s security arrangements remain uncertain.
