RAWALPINDI: Markets in the garrison city of Rawalpindi will remain open during the three day local holiday concerning the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit being held in Islamabad next week.
While major markets in Rawalpindi, including Raja Bazar, Moti Bazar, Ganj Mandi, and other downtown commercial areas, will remain open during the three-day local holiday, certain areas along primary routes will be temporarily closed.
According to official notifications, markets, schools, wedding halls, hotels, and hostels located along the main routes—from Rawal Road to Koral Chowk—will remain shut during the summit from October 14 to 16.
These closures are part of heightened security measures to facilitate the safe passage of delegates and avoid any disruptions.
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Despite the closures along key routes, the business community in Rawalpindi’s bustling markets has been reassured that operations in commercial hubs like Raja Bazar and Moti Bazar will remain unaffected.
Shopkeepers expressed relief over the government’s decision to allow major markets to remain open, especially with the ongoing economic pressures.
The decision comes as the city braces for the influx of high-profile international delegations attending the SCO summit in Islamabad. Law enforcement agencies, including police and Rangers, have been put on high alert, and additional security personnel are being deployed in sensitive areas to maintain peace and order.
Rawalpindi’s Traffic Police have already issued a special traffic plan for the event, advising citizens to avoid certain routes during the summit.