Pir Wadhai Bus Terminal reopens, transport services fully restored in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi district administration has reopened Pir Wadhai Adda and restored all related transport services, days after keeping the bus terminal closed despite the city’s extensive reopening of its transport network.

In a recent update, the Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi announced that Pir Wadhai Adda has also been reopened, fully restoring transport operations in the city.

Earlier on April 25, the district administration had said that all entry and exit routes of Rawalpindi have been reopened for private, government and goods transport, however, it clarified that Pir Wadhai Adda will remain closed until further orders.

That ban has now been lifted.

The latest development comes after authorities in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi had already allowed all types of public and goods transport to re-enter the twin cities. At that time, Islamabad had reopened all bus terminals across the city except Faizabad, while Rawalpindi had reopened all traffic routes but kept Pir Wadhai Adda closed.

Transport services in the twin cities were suspended on April 19 when the district administrations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi stopped public and goods transport without giving an official explanation for the move. Authorities asked citizens to cooperate only with security agencies.

Restrictions have been gradually eased since then.

Along with the transport relief, the Islamabad administration has also opened public places including the Margalla hiking trails as well as Daman Koh and Lake View Park.

However, the administration continues to implement revised business hours as part of the federal government’s austerity measures.

Under the latest schedule, markets and shopping malls must close by 8 pm, while restaurants, food outlets, tandoors, wedding halls, marquees, sports facilities, clubs and gymnasiums can remain open till 10 pm. Essential services such as medical stores, hospitals, petrol pumps and dairy shops are exempted.