Metro Bus Service suspended as Islamabad hosts SCO Summit

Islamabad:The Metro Bus Service in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will be suspended for four days starting today (Monday) and lasting until Thursday, due to the high-profile Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit being held in the federal capital. The district administration has directed the suspension.

In preparation for the shutdown, there was an unusual rush at major malls, shopping centres, and fruit and vegetable markets in both Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Families were stocking up on essential supplies, anticipating potential difficulties during the four-day disruption. Many residents, familiar with previous “curfew-like” situations, are managing the preparations with relative ease.

In addition to the Metro Bus Service, the majority of business activities and public movement on main roads will come to a halt from Monday onward. All forms of public transportation, including private service vehicles (PSVs), will be unavailable during this period. As of the time of writing, the federal government has not yet decided on whether to suspend mobile phone services. The government has declared a three-day public holiday for educational institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi from October 14 to 16. On October 10, officials also announced the closure of wedding halls, restaurants, and cafes in the twin cities for five days, from October 12 to 16. Local administrations have issued notices to traders and hotel owners, warning that any violations of these restrictions will result in penalties. In an effort to maintain law and order during the SCO summit, Section 144 has been enforced in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi until October 17. Under this order, the Punjab government has banned all political assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, pillion riding, aerial firing, pigeon flying, drone usage, and laser lights during the specified period.

These precautionary measures have been put in place to ensure the smooth and secure hosting of the SCO summit, an event of significant global importance. Islamabad will host the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting on October 15 and 16, with high-ranking officials from several member states in attendance. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the meeting in his capacity as the current SCO chair.

The heads of government from China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, along with the first vice president of Iran and India’s external affairs minister, will be present to represent their respective nations. Additionally, the prime minister of Mongolia, as an observer state, and the deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers and foreign minister of Turkmenistan, as a special guest, will participate in the summit. The meeting will focus on ongoing cooperation in areas such as the economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages, as well as a review of the organisation’s performance to date.