Capital routes open as protests end

Local leaders advocate one route remain open during future demonstrations

RAWALPINDI:

All closed internal and external routes to and from Rawalpindi city, as well as the routes which had been sealed within the city due to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) protests, were temporarily opened on Sunday.

The removal of barricades resulted in the resumption of daily life in the capital and Rawalpindi, with all small and large markets, commercial centres and wholesale markets reopening. Public transport began to run in the city, with the Metro bus service resuming operations. Mobile phone and internet services were also restored at noon. Additionally, government schools and offices announced they would reopen from October 7 (today). The All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association also declared that all private schools in the district, which had been closed for three days, will open on the same day.

The district administration first moved the containers and trucks parked in various areas of the city to the side, temporarily opening all routes, and allowing access to the city's roads and streets. As per government directives, the containers and trucks will remain by the roadside for the next 36 hours. A decision to permanently remove the containers will be made on Tuesday, October 8.

Since public transport became operational once again after being closed for a day, crowds of people who had been waiting to travel were gathered at transport terminals on Sunday. Travel between Rawalpindi and Islamabad also resumed. Citizens who were trapped in Rawalpindi during the protests began to head back to their hometowns.

With the reopening of internet and mobile services, associated businesses, transactions and the online tax collection system have been restored. Both men and women flocked to the markets as all Sunday markets in the twin cities opened for business as usual.

Commercial activities in the entire city returned to normal, which means that all officials will be going to office as per their routines from today.

The garbage accumulated in the streets and neighbourhoods due to the three-day road closures has started to be cleared as well. As only about 30 per cent of the garbage was removed by Sunday, sanitary workers stated that all the garbage can be cleared in three to four days if the roads remain continuously open.

Previously, they could only collect about 60 per cent of the daily accumulated waste in the city, but now, since the garbage from three days is scattered everywhere, it will take three to four days to clear.

Meanwhile, the Grand Teachers Alliance has announced a complete strike today, Monday, to protest the privatisation of government schools, which has led to several schools remaining closed and continuing protests by teaching staff. Protest leaders Basharat Iqbal Raja and Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia stated that their protest would continue until their main demands related to privatisation, leave encashment and pension rules were fulfilled.

Additionally, in the aftermath of the citywide shutdown, trader organisation leaders Shargil Mir and Hamad Qureshi demanded that at least one route should remain open for the movement of citizens and shopkeepers during any strike or protest.