Rawalpindi paralysed for third day amid PTI protest
Motorcyclists stand beneath Faizabad Bridge after a heavy downpour lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, making the weather pleasant. PHOTO: ZAFAR RAJA/EXPRESS
Major roads and highways, including Motorways M1, M4, M11, and M14, remain blocked for the third consecutive day due to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) protest. The disruption has caused widespread chaos, with metro bus services, transport hubs, and public transport grinding to a halt.
The blockade has disrupted daily life across Rawalpindi as educational institutions remained closed and food supply chains severely affected. Chicken, vegetables, and other commodities saw dramatic price surges, with tomatoes reaching Rs350 per kg, up from Rs130 three days ago.
The city administration and police have implemented stringent measures to maintain law and order in Rawalpindi amid PTI's nationwide protest call, including Islamabad. Over 70 routes connecting Rawalpindi to Islamabad, including inner city and Cantonment areas, have been sealed with containers and barriers, while police have established pickets at more than 65 key locations.
Although routes like Jhelum Road, Kutchery Chowk, and Mall Road remain partially open, most connecting roads are barricaded, impacting both businesses and public life. The situation has particularly strained healthcare services because patients and their families are struggling to access hospitals.
Shehryar Ahmed, a resident, shared his ordeal of trying to take his ailing wife to Holy Family Hospital but being forced to divert multiple times before reaching the District Headquarters Hospital. "I had to turn back from several places and barely found a way through Gowalmandi," he said.
Transport disruptions also persist, with metro bus services between Rawalpindi and Islamabad suspended for a fourth day. Containers loaded with medicines, fruits, vegetables, and other essentials remain stranded, further escalating prices.
Citizens have voiced frustration over the worsening situation. Afzal, a shopper, lamented the skyrocketing prices. "I bought tomatoes for Rs350 per kg. Just three days ago, they were Rs130. The cost of other vegetables has also doubled," he said.
As PTI protests continue nationwide, the uncertainty over road reopening and the ongoing disruptions have left residents and businesses struggling to adapt.