RAWALPINDI: Amir Saqi and his brothers – Mohammad Naseer, Tauseer Ahmed and Tahir – all daily-wage labourers, spent most of their days waiting in distress outside goods transport warehouses after the government banned the entry of public and goods transport as part of security arrangements for foreign delegations during the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad.

However, there was smile on their faces on Saturday night when they knew that goods transport had been allowed to enter the city. Faizabad and Pirwadhai bus terminals, however, will remain closed until further notice, said the district administration.

Since the blockade was imposed, the labourers said they spent most of their time waiting outside the warehouses of goods transport companies. The labourers used to collect goods from different parts of the city and deliver them to transport companies to earn their livelihoods.

The daily-wage workers, whose number is nearly 100, belonged to Nakyal, a tehsil in the Kotli district of AJK. They work in different markets such as Raja Bazaar, Narnakari and Bara Bazaar and have been living in rented rooms.

“During the lock-down, I hardly earned Rs500 to Rs600 per day because of the closure of the goods transport. Out of the Rs600, I spent Rs300 on a one-time meal and Rs90 for a cup of tea and a naan in the breakfast,” Naseer told Dawn.

“How can I send money to my family when I cannot meet my own expenses?”

Normally, he added, they used to go back to their home after one or two months, but this time it seemed very difficult even to arrange the bus fare.

Another daily-wage labourer said he had three school-going children, while his elder son had left school and was nowadays helping him in earning a livelihood.

He said: “Due to the prevailing situation, my friends have gone back to their homes instead of staying here. They were uncertain how long it would take to lift the restrictions on goods transportation”.

Amir Saqi said: “Every day passed with the hope that goods transport would be allowed to enter the city, alleviating our difficulties.”

He said he cannot explain how they were spending the days without earning.

“I hope that after the restriction is lifted, business activities will be restored and we will be able to earn our livelihood,” Saqi said.

A university student, who was seeking a part-time job to pay his fee, said he had to travel from Islamabad to his hostel in Saddar by spending Rs900 due to the lack of inter-city public transport.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026