Major protests by a religious group, which blocked traffic and trapped thousands of people for hours the day before, began to wind down Tuesday morning.
However, the demonstrations are continuing for a second day, but only in some regions. Lahore is where the majority of the demonstrations are taking place.
Roads situation in Karachi
Three areas in Karachi have been closed to traffic today.
Roads in the Hub River Road district, Baldia No 4 and Korangi No 2 have been closed, according to traffic police. Meanwhile, the demonstrations near Tower Chowk, Jinnah Bridge, and Hassan Square have come to a close.
Roads situation in Islamabad
The following is the condition of the major roads as of 2:30pm Tuesday afternoon, according to the most recent report provided by the Islamabad traffic police.
Road situation in Lahore
Riots are still going on in different parts of Lahore. With daily updates on the traffic situation, the Lahore traffic police have repeatedly asked people to avoid unnecessary travel due to protests in the area.
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, the Punjab Safe Cities Authority has given an update.
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To keep the situation under control in Punjab, paramilitary forces were called in. The Shanghai flyover and Bhatta Chowk in Lahore are both closed to traffic. After Monday’s protest, Murree Road in Rawalpindi has yet to reopen.
Protests in Lahore disrupted traffic flow in several places, including Chohang and Multan Road. In the Yateem Khana Chowk district, police used tear gas to disperse protesters.
Road status of National Highways
As of 12 p.m. Tuesday, the National Highways and Motorway Police had also given an update on the road blockades.
What happened during Monday’s protests?
Several passengers were unable to enter the airport during Monday’s protests.
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi to Lahore was also delayed due to 40 passengers failing to arrive on time at the airport.
Meanwhile, after an hour’s delay, a private company’s plane took off from Karachi for Lahore. According to reports, the crew of a PIA plane scheduled to fly to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, was also unable to reach the airport.
To prevent inconvenience, the traffic police advised residents to take alternate routes.
The traffic grid on Karachi’s main highways was destroyed as a result of Monday’s protests. Long lines of cars established at Tower, II Chundrigar Road, MA Jinnah Road, Zainab market, Governor House, Sharae Faisal, Liaquatabad, and other locations after 5 p.m.
For hours, tens of thousands of people were stranded. The flow of traffic on both the inbound and outbound tracks of the airport was stopped due to the protest near Stargate, making it extremely difficult for passengers to enter the Karachi airport.
Due to the traffic situation, the railways have added a 2-minute stop at Drigh Road and Landhi to the Sir Syed Express, Green Line Express, and Khyber Mail trains so that passengers heading to the surrounding areas can easily reach their homes.
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Shortage of oxygen tanks for coronavirus patients
Because of the traffic congestion in Lahore, there are concerns of a shortage of oxygen tanks for coronavirus patients.
The Punjab health department said Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot had a day’s supply of oxygen remaining, but the situation could worsen if supplies were not delivered today (Tuesday).
Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, the Punjab Health Minister, urged demonstrators to make way for trucks carrying oxygen cylinders in order to save patients’ lives.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Athal Chowk in Islamabad was closed to traffic on Monday, creating problems for residents. Protests erupted in Bhara Kahu, and traffic was blocked on roads leading to Murree and Azad Kashmir from the federal capital.
The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi’s entry points were also closed to traffic, causing further problems for residents of both cities.
The traffic at Rawalpindi’s Laiquat Bagh Chowk was heavily disrupted. Protesters had thrown stones at buildings earlier in the day, causing confusion and fear in the city.
Protest reports were also received from Jhelum, Naushehro Feroze, and Multan.
Meanwhile, traffic was backed up in Jaranwala, Samundari, and Chak Jhumra, among other towns in Faisalabad. In Latifabad, Hyderabad, residents faced a huge traffic jam.
The movement of traffic on the Quetta-Karachi Road was also disrupted in Khuzdar.
