Container Security Plan Could Cost Islamabad Over Rs400m
Police preparations include up to 1,000 containers for key roads and entry points, while historical government figures show Rs724.4 million was spent on protest prevention and Red Zone security in FY2022-23 alone.
ISLAMABAD: Security arrangements being prepared in the federal capital amid upcoming protest and march calls could generate hundreds of millions of rupees in expenditure, with Islamabad Police planning to arrange around 1,000 containers for deployment at major roads, entry and exit points and sensitive areas.
Police sources told Islamabad Tribune that more than 600 containers have already been arranged or taken into custody, while efforts are underway to secure the remaining containers required under the security plan. Independent reporting has also confirmed that contractors were asked to arrange more than 1,000 containers for possible deployment across Islamabad, including around the Red Zone and High Security Zone.
According to the sources, the proposed arrangement with container owners involves a daily rental of around Rs20,000 per container. Any compensation for damage to containers would be calculated separately. Based on the scale and duration of deployment, sources estimate that container-related and associated security expenditure could exceed Rs400 million, though a final official cost has yet to be announced.
Preparations Intensify Ahead of Planned Protests
The preparations come amid announced political activities in and around the capital, including PTI’s September 27 protest. Authorities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been preparing containers, additional personnel and other security measures ahead of the planned demonstrations.
Transporters have meanwhile raised concerns over the detention of commercial vehicles, saying their businesses and goods could be affected. Reports this week said some detained vehicles were carrying medicines and other essential supplies. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi subsequently directed Islamabad authorities to immediately release containers carrying medicines and ensure their movement was not obstructed.
Previous official figures illustrate the scale of expenditure associated with protest-related security in Islamabad. The federal government informed the National Assembly in 2025 that Rs724.4 million was spent on protest prevention and Red Zone security during FY2022-23, while expenditure stood at Rs100 million during FY2023-24. Such expenditure includes arrangements for containers as well as transportation, food and accommodation for security personnel.
Final Cost to Depend on Deployment Scale
For the latest preparations, sources said costs associated with additional security forces — including their transportation, accommodation and meals — would also form part of the final expenditure. Islamabad Police has informed the federal government about preliminary estimates, according to the sources.
A federal procurement record also shows that Islamabad Police’s Logistics Division sought bids earlier this year for the hiring of containers, cranes, forklifts and public-service/carriage vehicles, confirming an established procurement mechanism for such logistical requirements.
The final expenditure will depend on the number of containers actually deployed, the duration of their use and the scale of additional security arrangements.
