Closure threat hangs over transport terminals

The Rawalpindi district administration and the Regional Transport Authority have placed transport terminal owners and managers on red alert, instructing them to remain prepared for a possible 10-day shutdown at any time.

The district administration temporarily withdrew its emergency order to shut all transport terminals in Rawalpindi city and cantonment for 10 days from April 17 to April 26.

The order was withdrawn around 1:30am, allowing transporters to continue operations until further notice. No enforcement teams were sent to close terminals on Friday.

The order had been issued in connection with activities related to Pak-US ceasefire talks. Transporters strongly protested against the closure order and registered their complaints with the deputy commissioner, commissioner and secretary of the Regional Transport Authority. Representatives including Muhammad Abdullah, Anjum Hafeez Qureshi, Nosheran Khan and Wajahat Shah attended the meeting.

Transport Federation patron-in-chief Haji Zahoor Arian termed the proposed 10-day closure an "economic killing" of transporters. He said the order would affect 15 to 20 major transport terminals in the city, involving around 500 vehicles.

Each vehicle supports multiple workers, including two drivers, two conductors and two helpers, in addition to owners and partners.

"If transport operations are halted for 10 days, these families will lose their livelihoods," he said.

Transporters also warned that people travelling to their hometowns for personal or family reasons would be forced to arrange alternative transport, which would be significantly more expensive and difficult.

They urged the government to provide relief instead of restricting livelihoods and suggested shifting businesses to solar energy to save electricity during the day, while adjusting working hours from after Fajr to Maghrib.

According to transport leader Anjum Hafeez Qureshi, terminals were initially sealed on Thursday night, but their request to allow vehicles arriving from other districts to return was rejected.

Transporters said a prolonged shutdown would economically devastate hundreds of families dependent on daily earnings. They suggested that if closure is necessary, it should be limited to two days instead of 10.

Although the order has been temporarily withdrawn, transporters fear a fresh notification could be issued within 48 hours to enforce the 10-day closure.