LAHORE: Lahore is bracing for a near-total lockdown as authorities prepare for a planned protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In anticipation of large-scale unrest, the city has been heavily barricaded, with thousands of containers placed across major entry and exit points.
Key routes, including the Babu Sabu Interchange, a vital access point to Lahore, are sealed off, causing massive traffic disruptions.
Motorists are being rerouted through alternative routes such as Thokar Niaz Baig, while stretches of the motorway, especially from Niazi Adda to Babu Sabu, are gridlocked.
In addition to the motorway blockages, several important roads within the city are also closed, including Saggian Road, which is shut from Al-Saeed Chowk to Sheikhupura. Traffic heading into Lahore from areas like Imamia Colony and Barkat Colony is blocked at Shahdara.
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Both Begum Kot Chowk and the Eastern Bypass have been entirely closed, and the Lahore Ring Road, a crucial artery for commuters, is off-limits.
To maintain control, extra security personnel have been deployed at checkpoints across Lahore, with a heightened presence at sensitive areas to prevent potential unrest. Despite the extensive closures, the City Traffic Officer (CTO) has reassured the public that traffic within the city remains relatively normal.
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Meanwhile, the situation is compounded by the closure of multiple sections of Pakistan’s motorway network for “maintenance” operations.
At least six major routes linking Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, and Peshawar are closed, worsening the already tense traffic situation.
The PTI protest, set for November 24, aims to demand the restoration of democracy, an independent judiciary, and the release of arrested party workers.
Imran Khan has urged supporters to join the protest or risk being sidelined from the party.
