Milad processions to bring major roads to a standstill

MA Jinnah Road to close to general traffic as three major processions converge on central Karachi The city's central arteries will face major traffic restrictions on Wednesday as three major Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) processions move through the city, with MA Jinnah Road closed to general traffic and heavy and commercial vehicles barred from operating across Karachi. Traffic police have finalised a special traffic plan for the three main processions, allowing only vehicles carrying designated passes to enter MA Jinnah Road during the processions. Motorists have been advised to use alternative routes to avoid prolonged delays. The first procession will leave Shaheed Mosque in Kharadar at around 2:30pm under the leadership of Maulana Yaqoob Attari. It will pass through New Memon Mosque before concluding at Gulzar-e-Habib Mosque around Asr prayer time, according to a traffic police spokesperson. Two other major processions will originate from New Memon Mosque at Bolton Market. One, led by Maulana Akbar Dars, will set off at around 2:30pm and conclude at Aram Bagh Mosque around Asr. The third procession, led by Maulana Shah Abdul Haq Qadri, will depart New Memon Mosque at 3pm and proceed towards Nishtar Park, where it is scheduled to conclude at around 6pm. A Milad-un-Nabi conference will be held at Nishtar Park after the procession concludes. A ban on the movement of heavy and commercial vehicles across the city will also remain in force on 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal as part of the security and traffic arrangements. Karachi lights up City is decked out in colourful lights and religious banners, while authorities have tightened security along procession routes and around major gatherings, deploying more than 4,000 police personnel to keep the celebrations peaceful. Mosques, streets and major intersections across the city have been illuminated with colourful lights and decorated with banners depicting the Green Dome and sacred relic motifs. The police have finalised security arrangements for the day, with 4,208 officers and personnel deployed across the city for processions and religious gatherings, according to a police spokesperson.