Traders urge immediate opening of Bank Road

Threaten to stage protest if road is not reopened within 48 hours

RAWALPINDI:

The Traders Association of Rawalpindi Cantt has demanded the immediate reopening of Bank Road in Saddar, closed for months due to the ongoing Underground Cabling and Beautification project. During a press conference on Wednesday, Saddar Traders Association President Sheikh Hafeez, General Secretary Zafar Qadri, former President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, and other trade leaders announced a protest if the road isn't reopened within 48 hours.

They warned that a rally and sit-in will be held outside the Cantonment Board office on November 13.

Expressing frustration, the business leaders said they had cooperated fully with the administration, enduring months of roadblocks and containers disrupting their businesses.

"We gave ample time to the current government, avoiding confrontation," said Sheikh Hafeez.

"But in the name of underground cabling, the business community has been inconvenienced daily. If the road isn't opened within two days, we will be compelled to protest."

The traders emphasised that while they initially supported the beautification project, it has stalled, adding to their grievances.

"We secured substantial funds from the Punjab government, expecting timely project completion. However, the Cantonment Board's slow pace and placement of faulty transformers and boards in front of shops have only increased our struggles," they stated, adding that traffic issues have intensified with Bank Road's conversion into a pedestrian street, impacting customer accessibility due to limited parking.

Former Chamber President Saqib Rafiq noted that the repair deadline has long passed, calling for the road's immediate reopening.

"While the cabling project promised improvement, it's brought more complications due to the cantonment board's poor execution," he said.