After four days of blockades, life back to normal in twin cities
ISLAMABAD: Routine life returned to the twin cities after remaining barricaded for four days.
The next morning the Capital Development Authority (CDA) launched the cleanliness operation on Jinnah Avenue and removed waste and garbage.
Containers were also removed from various roads, including Jinnah Avenue, Faisal Avenue, Islamabad Expressway and Srinagar Highway. Besides, the mud that had been dumped on both sides of the containers was also swept away to clear the roads for traffic.
Besides, metro bus service also resumed it operations in Islamabad which had been suspended due to the protests.
The government also ordered opening of educational institutions on Thursday (today) after a gap of three days.
It may be mentioned here that exams, including mid terms, are being conducted in majority of the schools.
Business centres and offices located in areas around Jinnah Avenue have also opened while employees who had been unable to reach their workplaces due to the blockades rejoined their respective offices.
Supplies of edibles, like grocery items as well as dairy and poultry products, resumed after remaining affected due to the blockades.
Life was back to normal in Rawalpindi as people went about their normal business, which had been affected due to the protest in neighboring Islamabad.
Educational institutions will also open on Thursday after remaining closed for three days.
In the downtown city areas, the main markets remained closed while roads were blocked with containers and barbed wires to prevent protesters from gathering on Murree Road following imposition of Section 144.
After the clean-up operation in Islamabad on Tuesday night, the police and district administration started clearing the roads, removing containers and trucks to allow free movement of people.
However, business activities in the main markets of the city remained dull on Wednesday as vehicular traffic was also thin. Though the bus terminals in the city opened and inter-city buses began to ply, the number of local commuters using public transport remained low.
According to the city traders, almost one week of business has been lost due to the ongoing protests and blockade of the city. Daily wage workers were the most affected who had already been facing problems in making both ends meet.
On the other hand, parents and students were equally worried due to the closure of educational institutions. Several people who had to flights to catch were unable to reach the airports due to the road blocks.