REFERENCE news item “Rulers’ needs more important than citizens’ concerns?” (Nov 1).

AS regards the siege of the main artery of Islamabad by a religio-political party, one must believe that rulers’ needs have priority, no matter how the people suffer,including the death of an infant following the roadblock at Faizabad. Although many times the media has highlighted the torturous journey on Islamabad roads, all in vain.

The Expressway is the only exit and entry point for all vehicular traffic coming from Lahore to Islamabad. There is no ring road or an alternative road, while city managers are least bothered about resolving the problem to lighten the citizens’ sufferings.

With the closure of Khayaban-i-Suharwardy, its intersection with 7th Avenue has turned into a regular bottleneck, though some time back there was a plan to extend 7th Avenue right up to Murree Road with an interchange at the junction of Khayaban-i-Suhrawardy and Kashmir Highway.

This would have greatly eased traffic on the Islamabad Highway, and served as an alternative route to the capital.

But who cares for poor commuters when a more important project like the construction of half- a-kilometre road for a helipad near the presidency is the priority?

Khalid bin Ismail

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2017