Though the government does not tire of talking about its austerity measures, the facts present an entirely different picture. A royal protocol is awaiting on the arrival of President Arif Alvi to Lahore later today as the Punjab administration has called hundreds of traffic wardens from 13 districts of the province for the president’ protocol, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Sources informed on Friday that the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) has called three DSPs, 240 wardens and 10 senior traffic wardens for the protocol of President Alvi during his visit to Lahore. The CTO would make arrangements for the food and lodging of the protocol officials.

The security officials have been called from Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Nankana, Kasur, Gujrat, Sahiwal, Chiniot, Narowal and Sargodha. These wardens have been deputed on the route of presidential caravan. 

The city traffic police have a strength of more than 3,000 wardens. The OSI traffic headquarters Punjab was responsible to dispatch these wardens on special duty. 

Ninety patrolling officers of Ring Road police have also been deputed on president’s route. Protocol wardens have been deputed from Adda Plot to Abdullah Gul Interchange, sources concluded.  

Reporter Abid Chaudhry