RAWALPINDI: Traders in Saddar on Monday closed their businesses and staged a protest against the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) for turning Bank Road into a pedestrian street, warning of a shutter-down on January 6 if the road was not opened.

More than 300 shopkeepers and salesmen gathered in front of Singapore Plaza and staged the protest.

Cantonment Traders Association President Sheikh Hafeez, Traders City Association President Rana Khurram, General Secretary Zafar Qadri and others led the protest.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Hafeez and Zafar Qadri said the closure of Bank Road by the RCB had created a traffic mess and other issues and destroyed business of shopkeepers in Saddar.

They said top officials of the cantonment board had created hurdles instead of ensuring condusive environment for businesses.

“We have been facing difficulties and cannot do business. We pay all taxes and rents,” they said.

Sheikh Hafeez demanded an audit of the construction of roads, adding two years ago roads had been constructed and now their reconstruction had started again.

He said due to the closure of Bank Road, traffic load on Murree Road, Haider Road, Adamjee Road and Kashmir Road had increased causing their virtual blockades. As a result, our customers have disappeared and shopkeepers are sitting idle.

He said offices located in the shopping malls on Bank Road were also planning to move to other parts of the cantonment as they had to come to their offices while parking their vehicles on different roads.

The protesters criticised the RCB administration for not giving time to traders and citizens and listen to their complaints. They demanded an inquiry to ascertain those responsible behind taking the decision to close Bank Road for traffic without any planning for parking.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2024