The end of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest has brought an immediate return to normalcy in the capital and Lahore, with traffic flowing smoothly on major roads and motorways reopening across the region.
Following a large-scale operation late last night in Islamabad, the protesters have dispersed from key locations, including D-Chowk and Blue Area. The vehicles that had been blocking roads and highways are no longer visible, with many of the protesters returning to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in their respective vehicles.
The Express Highway, previously a hotspot for protest-related traffic jams, has also cleared up.
With the streets and highways now free of blockages, cleaning operations are underway, particularly on Jinnah Avenue, Express Highway, and Srinagar Highway, which had been littered with debris during the protests.
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Motorway traffic, which had been severely disrupted due to the protests, has also returned to normal. Spokespersons for the motorway police confirmed the reopening of several key routes, including:
- M1 Motorway from Peshawar to Islamabad, which had been briefly closed, is now open for traffic.
- M2 Motorway, linking Lahore and Islamabad, has resumed operations.
- M11 Motorway, connecting Lahore and Sialkot, has been fully restored for vehicles.
- M4 Motorway, from Pindi Bhattian to Abdul Hakeem, is once again accessible.
- M14 Motorway, which links Hakla to Dera Ismail Khan, has been reopened as well.
- M3 Motorway, which had previously been closed, is also open for traffic.
In Lahore, all major entry and exit points, including Ravi Bridge, Old Ravi Bridge, and Sagian Ravi Bridge, have been reopened. Key routes like Multan Road, Raiwind Road, Ferozepur Road, and Gajumta are now clear for movement, while Lahore’s Ring Road and the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway also saw their operations restored.
The Lahore Traffic Police spokesperson confirmed that all internal and external routes of the city are now fully operational, marking the return of regular traffic flow in the provincial capital.
