Metrobus service in Rawalpindi and Islamabad resumed on Wednesday after a halt due to the D-Chowk protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Metrobus operations were suspended on November 23 and remained so until Wednesday. Services restarted at 3 p.m. as conditions stabilized in Islamabad, bringing relief to the residents of the twin cities. Typically, 125,000 to 135,000 passengers utilize this service daily. The suspension was a safety measure during the protest.
From November 28 to December 1, the Metrobus track from Saddar Station to Faizabad Station in Rawalpindi will undergo maintenance. In contrast, operations from IJP Station to Pak Secretariat Station in Islamabad will continue as usual.
Following the reopening of roads after the five-day PTI protest, local authorities announced that schools would reopen on Thursday. Hasan Waqar Cheema, the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Executive Officer of the District Education Authority confirmed the resumption of classes in all government and private schools, supported by an official notification.
Presidents of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association, Abrar Ahmad Khan, and the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association, Irfan Muzaffar Kayani, declared that private schools would resume educational activities.
The Rawalpindi Education Board will continue with the practical exams scheduled for today. Government school offices reopened on Wednesday, and full staff attendance is expected starting today.
The community, including shopkeepers, welcomed the reopening of roads and the restoration of daily activities. Many advocated for measures to avoid such extensive future disruptions, aiming for smoother operation of the public and private sectors during political events.
Despite a return to normalcy, some challenges persist. Teachers opposed to privatising government schools have planned new protests and an educational boycott.
