DID Press: The widespread use of shipping containers to block roads in Islamabad ahead of a planned march by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has imposed significant costs on drivers, transport companies and businesses. An Al Jazeera report said thousands of vehicles and containers have remained idle for weeks, with the economic impact extending beyond direct transport losses.
Transport associations estimate that between 1,500 and 2,000 containers and vehicles have been held in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Some have remained under police control for nearly four weeks. The PTI march, originally scheduled for September 27, has been postponed to October 4.
Islamabad Police initially requested about 820 million Pakistani rupees for one week of security arrangements, but after the postponement, officials expect the final cost to exceed 1 billion rupees, equivalent to about $3.6 million. Al Jazeera reported that the daily rental cost for more than 1,500 containers has been estimated at 46.5 million rupees.
Representatives of the transport sector say each container truck left idle results in between 30,000 and 40,000 rupees in lost daily income. They also claim they have not received compensation for their losses and that the date for returning their vehicles remains unclear.
Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, has rejected the claims, saying container rentals are handled through formal contracts and paid at market rates. He told Al Jazeera that legitimate container rentals are documented and paid through established procedures.
The Al Jazeera report also highlighted difficulties faced by drivers who have had to remain beside their vehicles to protect them. A lack of sanitary facilities, prolonged delays and the possibility of penalties involving containers belonging to foreign companies were cited as additional consequences.
Some experts have also warned that disruption to traffic and economic activity in Islamabad could impose costs beyond container rentals on hotels, businesses and investor confidence.
The Pakistani government says the use of containers is part of precautionary security measures based on intelligence assessments. Chaudhry told Al Jazeera that security preparations are made in advance based on anticipated security requirements. The report, however, documents the significant economic and social costs arising from the prolonged restrictions for the capital and Pakistan’s transport sector.