PTI blockades disrupt K-P supply lines

Highway closures to press for Imran's medical access halt goods from Punjab, raising shortage fears in Ramazan

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers have blocked major highways linking Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab for the past four days, severely halting the supply of essential commodities and sparking concerns over shortages as Ramazan approaches.

The sit-ins, part of ongoing demonstrations demanding better medical access and treatment for jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, have targeted key routes including the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway at Swabi, GT Road at Attock Bridge, Khushalgarh in Kohat, and roads in Dera Ismail Khan leading to Punjab. These blockades have effectively isolated K-P from Punjab, a primary source of goods such as flour, rice, pulses, and other groceries.

Traders report that shipments from Punjab have come to a near standstill, with only limited quantities arriving through alternative, less efficient routes. Markets in K-P are already experiencing reduced stock levels, prompting shopkeepers to impose restrictions on sales. Many are selling items in limited quantities to stretch supplies, while citizens say they are now buying only essentials due to uncertainty.

The disruption extends beyond groceries: livestock transport from Punjab has also stopped, raising fears of meat shortages during Ramazan when demand typically surges for iftar and Eid preparations. Residents complain that routine shopping for the holy month has been hampered, with fears that prolonged blockades could lead to acute shortages of food items.

Local traders attribute the emerging crisis directly to the road closures. "Supplies have dropped sharply since the protests intensified," one shopkeeper said. "If the routes remain blocked until Ramazan begins, we could face serious shortages of essentials."

The protests, now in their second or third day in various locations according to reports, have caused widespread traffic chaos and stranded commuters, but the economic ripple effects are hitting households hardest as families prepare for the fasting month.