Key Takeaways
- All general bus terminals in Lahore were sealed late Saturday night.
- Intercity bus services were suspended on Sunday, leaving passengers stranded.
- Major private operators halted services due to reported transport restrictions.
Lahore’s administration sealed all general bus terminals late Saturday night, suspending intercity services on Sunday. Passengers were left stranded with canceled tickets and suspended departures.
The closures disrupted travel to Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, southern Punjab, and parts of central Punjab. Major private operators, including Faisal Movers and Daewoo, also halted services.
Representatives of Faisal Movers and Daewoo confirmed that buses were not being dispatched due to the restrictions. However, a motorway police spokesperson, Imran Shah, stated that motorways and highways remained open and he was unaware of any instructions to suspend bus services.
An anonymous motorway police official linked the suspension to the PTI’s protest call, which began on October 4 and has remained within KP. He said private vehicles could still use the roads.
The disruption comes amid the PTI’s march demanding Imran Khan’s release. Containers had also been moved to Swabi Interchange and the Indus River bridge on the M-1 to block the march, although the motorway and Grand Trunk Road remained open.
Passengers faced significant inconveniences, with many reporting canceled tickets and suspended departures. The situation left many stranded at the terminals, seeking alternative means of transportation.
The PTI’s protest march, which began on October 4, has remained within KP, and the movement of containers to block the march indicates the ongoing tension and disruption in the region.
While the motorways and highways remained open, the suspension of bus services has caused considerable disruption to intercity travel, affecting thousands of passengers.
