Routine traffic on Lahore, Rawalpindi roads as almost all blocked routes reopened

There is traffic as usual on Lahore roads as all routes leading to and exiting from the city were reopened for traffic after the police removed containers from the roads last night, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.  

Traffic has been restored at all points, including New Ravi Bridge, Greater Iqbal Park, Babu Sabu, Thokar and Saggyan, while the Metro Bus service has resumed as well.

The authorities had to seal these routes on Saturday on account of the PTI’s protest demonstration in Islamabad and also in view of the birthday celebrations of former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan at Greater Iqbal Park.

On the other hand, also on Sunday, most of the roads in Rawalpindi were reopened for traffic while Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hassan Waqar Cheema said that soon containers will be removed from all other routes as well. 

"However, Murree Road is still closed at Faizabad," he said, adding, "It is up to the Islamabad administration to open it." 

Similarly, the DC went on to say, the capital city administration had to decide when to remove containers from the routes connecting the city to Rawalpindi such as IJP Road, Double Road, Islamabad Expressway and some other important points.

Islamabad to Peshawar M-1 also opened

Likewise, stretch of the motorway connecting Islamabad to Peshawar was also opened for traffic, while M-14 linking Islamabad with Mianwali was also later opened.  

Meanwhile, the cellphone services in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, which had been blocked three days ahead of the PTI’s protest demonstration in the federal capital, were restored.    

Reporters: Rana Faran Yamin and Irshad Qureshi and Awais Kiani