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Commuter Relief: Islamabad Reopens Main Roads After Multi-Day Security Closure
After several days of a stringent security lockdown, authorities in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have begun reopening major thoroughfares to the public. Key routes, including the Expressway (from Koral to Zero Point) and several bus terminals, have resumed operations, providing much-needed relief to commuters
ND
by News Desk
2026-04-22
Commuter Relief: Islamabad Reopens Main Roads After Multi-Day Security Closure

A City in Limbo

The planned second round of high-stakes peace talks between the U.S. and Iran hit a snag when Vice President JD Vance’s team abruptly changed their travel plans, and the Iranian delegation delayed their arrival. Despite this diplomatic "pause," authorities have kept the Red Zone completely sealed, with the military and police maintaining a heavy presence around government buildings and embassies.

Partial Relief for Commuters

While the heart of the capital remains off-limits, residents in other areas finally received some breathing room:

  • Roads Reopening: Major routes that were choked by shipping containers for days are gradually being cleared, allowing traffic to flow more freely between the twin cities.

  • Transport Resuming: Public bus services have started to trickle back to life, with terminals like Chungi No. 26 and Peshawar Road resuming operations, though Faizabad remains largely closed.

  • Supply Lines: While grocery stores still have stock for now, the halt in heavy goods transport is beginning to worry local traders and large-scale industries, including oil refineries like Attock, which had to pause some operations.

The "Price of Peace"

The public sentiment is a complex mix of national pride and personal frustration. While many Pakistanis are proud that Islamabad is serving as a global mediator to end the Middle East conflict, the daily toll is heavy:

  • Economic Strain: Small business owners and daily wagers are struggling with a complete lack of customers.

  • Daily Disruptions: Parents are juggling online classes for children, and office workers are facing inflated transport fares and massive delays.

As one local resident put it, these disruptions are seen by some as a "small sacrifice" to help stop a much larger global conflict, but for the working class, the "stop-start" nature of these lockdowns is pushing their patience—and their pockets—to the limit.
Tagged:

#IslamabadTraffic #TwinCitiesNews #RedZone #RoadReopening #SecurityAlert
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