Road closures leave daily-wage workers jobless

Strict closure of roads amid fears of the long march and sit-ins has brought goods transport to a halt, while thousands of daily-wage workers at hotels, motels, inns, marriage halls, private hostels and public transport services have reportedly lost their jobs. Helpers, dishwashers, waiters, sweepers and sanitary workers employed on daily wages have been laid off following the complete closure of transport and goods terminals, public transport and hospitality businesses. Transport and goods terminals have been deserted, while hotels, marquees, marriage halls and hostels have been locked. Faizabad, a business hub of Rawalpindi for the past 50 years, has also become deserted, presenting a scene of a ghost town. Tents and barricades have been erected at the entrances to hotels and marquees. The central traders' association, transport federation and goods transporters have demanded that the government and opposition immediately end the tense situation and hold negotiations. Transport Federation Patron-in-Chief Haji Zahoor Arain said transporters were suffering because of the closure of terminals. He said the use of force and the long march would damage the national economy and halt development, urging the government to immediately bring the parties to the negotiating table. He said the parties had come to the negotiating table after the First and Second World Wars and the Iran-US conflict. "If the government of Pakistan considers negotiations the only solution to the US-Iran issues, why does it not negotiate with the opposition in the country?" he asked. He called for the issue to be resolved through negotiations in accordance with the Constitution, law, Islamic traditions and humanity, warning that otherwise provincialism and linguistic divisions could spread to dangerous levels. He said the extension of the date of the long march by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had opened a path towards negotiations and that advantage should be taken of it. "The twin cities have been turned into a container city. Open the roads and restore businesses," he demanded.