For most people, a container is a simple storage solution or a tool for shipping goods. But for the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi – the twin cities – containers have become a symbol of chaos and frustration. These towering metal blocks no longer represent commerce but the looming threat of blocked roads disrupted lives, and mounting anxiety.
This trend of using containers to barricade roads first gained prominence in 2014, during a high-profile political protest. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, staged a sit-in protest (dharna) demanding the resignation of then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In a bid to control the influx of protesters, the government deployed containers to seal off access routes to Islamabad. Ironically, PTI, once a vocal critic of this very tactic, ended up employing it later when it came into power.
Fast forward to today, and the container problem has escalated again. In the lead-up to the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad, containers are once more blocking roads across the twin cities. While the summit itself is a diplomatic win for Pakistan, the way it’s being managed on the ground is causing more harm than good for ordinary citizens.
After personally interacting with some locals, the frustration was evident. Shah, a father of four, shared his distress: “My two teenage kids were stuck at school while my younger daughter, burning with fever, needed urgent medical attention. It was a nightmare!” Mariam, who missed her flight to England due to the unpredictable roadblocks, voiced similar frustration.
Moreover, Momin, a working professional, described being stuck in traffic for three hours straight, while Danyal, an A-levels student, expressed the mental strain he faced during his Cambridge International Examinations (CIE’s) due to unexpected road blockage.
These containers may serve a purpose for political protests or international events, but they have become a living nightmare for the residents. For the people of the twin cities, what’s meant to be a temporary security measure has become a constant source of dread. Isn’t it time we found a better solution?
