Physical Address
Islamabad, Pakistan
The government has started restoring major roads leading towards Islamabad after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) postponed its planned long march from September 27 to October 4. The reopening has provided relief to commuters and transporters who had faced restrictions on key routes in recent days.
The Grand Trunk Road (N-5) between Islamabad and Peshawar has been reopened to all traffic, according to the National Highways and Motorway Police. The M-1 motorway between the two cities has also been restored in both directions.
The roads had been closed as part of security arrangements ahead of the planned PTI march. Containers, sandbags and other barriers were placed at several points, particularly around Attock, to restrict movement towards the federal capital.
PTI announced that the march would instead take place on October 4. Following the postponement, authorities began removing the barriers and restoring traffic on routes connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab and Islamabad.
The reopening of the GT Road is expected to ease difficulties for commuters, businesses and transport operators. The prolonged closures had disrupted commercial activity in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with transport terminals and several businesses reporting significant losses.
While the GT Road and M-1 have reopened, restoration work on parts of the M-14 motorway and some connecting routes was still continuing. Motorists have been advised to follow traffic instructions as authorities complete the remaining work.
With the protest now scheduled for October 4, the situation on major roads around Islamabad could remain subject to further security decisions in the coming days.
