How Much Is Islamabad Spending to Block Marches?

News Desk

Islamabad: Islamabad police and the capital administration have stepped up security preparations ahead of planned long marches by Jamaat-e-Islami on September 20 and PTI on September 27, with hundreds of shipping containers being positioned across the city to restrict movement.

According to details obtained by Geo News, around 600 containers have so far been brought into Islamabad, while authorities have set a target of deploying up to 1,000 containers at key locations.

Containers have been placed at various entry and exit points of the federal capital, while access to the Red Zone through D-Chowk has been completely sealed as part of the security arrangements.

Authorities also plan to place piles of earth inside and around the containers to strengthen the barricades.

More than 3,000 police personnel are expected to be deployed for security duties, while Rangers and the Anti-Riot Force will also be part of the security arrangements.

Additional police personnel from other cities are expected to be called in after September 20, depending on the security situation and requirements.

The reported daily rental for a 40-foot container is Rs20,000, adding significantly to the cost of the security arrangements.

According to the report, security measures implemented to block the PTI long march on November 26, 2025, cost approximately Rs170 million, or Rs17 crore.

A similar budget has reportedly been allocated for the current security arrangements ahead of the upcoming political marches.