Twin cities’ economy grinds to a halt as protests trigger widespread disruption

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI – The economic heartbeat of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi faltered for a second consecutive day on Saturday, as a political protest led by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at the US Embassy inflicted severe operational and financial damage on the local business community, supply chains, and the workforce.

The core of the crisis for businesses is a near-total lockdown of the cities’ major arterial roads. The administration’s sealing of the Faizabad Interchange—the primary commercial nexus connecting the two cities—along with GT Road, Murree Road, and key access points to the Motorway, has created a logistical nightmare. This has effectively severed the flow of goods and commuters, bringing commercial activity to a standstill.

The complete ban on heavy vehicles has halted the movement of inventory and goods. Businesses reliant on just-in-time supply chains, particularly in the industrial and retail sectors, are facing critical disruptions.

With the Metro Bus service suspended and private travel hindered by extensive roadblocks, a significant portion of the workforce has been unable to reach offices in key commercial districts like the Islamabad Red Zone, Saddar, and along the now-inaccessible Sixth Road and Committee Chowk. Restricted access to the Islamabad International Airport has caused flight delays, impacting business travel, tourism, and cargo operations.

While the government has stated that peaceful protest is a democratic right, they have simultaneously framed the TLP’s actions as “causing unrest” rather than legitimate demonstration. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s warning that “no mob will be allowed to storm Islamabad” signals a hardline stance, but the prolonged containment strategy has come at a significant economic cost.

The interior ministry’s advisory for citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, coupled with a warning that the situation “could prolong further,” injects uncertainty into the market. An ambiguity which forces businesses to contend with the prospect of a multi-day shutdown, complicating payroll, delivery schedules, and financial planning.

The sealing of a major urban center with containers, while a security measure, functions as a blunt instrument that inflicts collateral damage on the very economic activity that the government seeks to promote.

The ongoing situation comes as an Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore remanded 110 TLP activists to police on a 12-day physical remand in a case related to violent protests and attacks on police personnel.