RAWALPINDI: Road closures for construction work in different areas of the garrison city, coupled with a traders’ protest on Murree Road, led to severe traffic congestion on Tuesday.

A major protest demonstration was organised by the Rawalpindi Central Traders Association against actions being taken by Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (Pera) force, Punjab Food Authority, the District Price Control Committee, Punjab Revenue Authority, district administration against traders, including imposition of fines, sealing of business centres and cases being filed against shopkeepers.

More than 200 shopkeepers gathered at Liaquat Bagh on Murree Road and stopped the traffic movement.

The protesters were led by Punjab and Rawalpindi Central Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha. Other central office-bearers including Raja Towhid, Rana Khurram, Malik Waqar, Sajid Butt, Zaheer Abbasi, Saleem Pervaiz Butt, Sardar Saqib, Saifullah Khan and Haji Atta and others were present.

The protesters were carrying placards inscribed with their demands and chanting slogans. They said Pera officials misbehaved with shopkeepers and visitors to bazaars.

Association president says govt has made it impossible for traders to do business

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Paracha said instead of providing a condusive environment, the government had made it impossible for traders to do business.

“There are too many government organisations like Pera force, PFA, price control committee, revenue authority and the district administration. They come daily to collect fines from shopkeepers.

“Due to inflation, the purchasing power of consumers has reduced a lot and shopkeepers have to pay fines to six organisations while there is no mechanism for official price list and no check on wholesale dealers and industrialists who increase prices of edibles,” he said.

He said the business community of Rawalpindi was not capable of doing business under such circumstances. “If the situation continues like this, we will be forced to lock our shops and hand over the keys to the district administration,” he said.

“We appeal to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz that if our legitimate demands are not met, we will be forced to go on a shutter-down strike after consulting with business organisations across Punjab,” he said.

Gridlocks on roads

Due to the one-and-a-half-hour-long protest on the major artery, the city witnessed worst traffic jams. Many people, particularly those who had gone to Raja Bazaar and downtown areas for Ramazan shopping, were stuck for hours.

As the construction work on Kutchery Chowk continued, the alternative roads such as Jhanda Chichi, Jinnah Park and Ammar Chowk were choked.

Traffic in Raja Bazaar was also blocked due to the closure of Murree Road.

“I went to College Road and used Murree Road to go back home on Jhelum Road and stuck in traffic jam from 3pm till 6:15pm,” said Mohammad Bilal, a motorist.

Imran Nazir, a motorist, said he went to Bara Market and went back to Chaklala Scheme-III after remaining stuck in traffic gridlock for two hours on Jhanda Chichi Road and Murree Road.

He said instead of managing traffic, the police were busy in imposing challans.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026