"Behind the Barriers: Tracing the 700 Containers That Transformed Islamabad"

Pros

1. Intriguing and Engaging 

   - The phrase "Behind the Barriers" piques curiosity, encouraging readers to explore the story behind the containers.  

2. Descriptive and Informative 

   - "Tracing the 700 Containers" clearly outlines the focus, giving readers a clear idea of what the blog is about.  

3. Transformative Angle  

   - The word "Transformed" implies significant impact, making the topic sound consequential and worth reading.  

4. Broader Appeal 

   - It appeals to audiences interested in urban planning, political events, and socio-economic impacts.  

5. Balanced Tone  

   - Neutral and professional, leaving room to discuss both sides of the issue.

Cons

1. Potential Lack of Urgency  

   - The title doesn’t convey an immediate sense of controversy or urgency, which might attract more clicks.  

2. Niche Audience  

   - People unfamiliar with Islamabad's current events might not find it relatable or engaging at first glance.  

3. Focus on the Containers  

   - While intriguing, the title focuses heavily on the containers, potentially missing broader elements like political, economic, or social angles.  

4. Lengthy for SEO 

   - At 10 words, it may be slightly long for search engines, reducing its effectiveness for click-through rates.  

 Suggestions for Improvement:

- If you want to emphasize controversy or intrigue: 

 

   "Behind Islamabad's Barriers: The Hidden Story of 700 Containers"

- For a concise and urgent tone: 

 

   "Islamabad’s Container Crisis: Costs and Consequences"  

Pakistan's federal capital Islamabad continued to present the scene of a 'container city' during the PTI march and protest, which not only affected the daily lives of ordinary citizens but also caused losses to many businesses.

By the way, this city with a population of about 2.5 million was given this name by the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court in August, but from time to time there is an opportunity to use this term.

According to the Islamabad police, roads in the federal capital were blocked using 700 containers in view of the protest demonstration by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Even the roads connecting Islamabad with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were blocked with the help of these containers.

That is, according to an estimate, three containers were erected at a distance of every square kilometer in an urban area of ​​​​220 square kilometers.

Although authorities say the aim was to maintain law and order in the city and protect the Belarusian president's delegation, the move has sparked public outrage on local media and social media.

While some residents are unhappy with the closure of schools, others say they are unable to take their loved ones to hospital for treatment due to road closures.

When asked about this yesterday, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said, "We apologize to the public on behalf of the government, but these necessary measures were taken to protect them and the state."

Speaking about the damage caused to the country's economy by the protests, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb claimed that "the country's economy is losing Rs190 billion a day due to the protests."

Where do these containers blocking Islamabad come from?

An Islamabad police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that 700 containers have been placed at various entrances and important places of the city to maintain law and order.

He said that these containers are obtained from contractors as needed and payment is made for them.

According to a news report published in the Dawn newspaper in October 2024, the rent of a container is around 40 thousand, meaning that if the number of 700 containers is accepted as correct, the total cost will be 28 million rupees.

According to this report, the police had also spent 27 million rupees to obtain 600 containers in view of the PTI protest in October.

However, United Goods Transporters Alliance Chairman Ghulam Yasin, while speaking to BBC correspondent Rohan Ahmed, claimed that the police “stop” trucks on the roads and unload the containers.

According to him, there are dry ports in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Peshawar and other areas and the administration often “picks up” empty containers from there too.

Regarding the damage to the containers, he said that the damage is “bearable by the person whose goods they are.”

Meanwhile, Senior Chairman of the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association, Imdad Hussain Naqvi, reiterated the claim that whenever there is a protest or march, containers used for import and export are ‘stopped on the roads’ by the administration and police.

He alleged that the government has ‘no mechanism to obtain containers, but they are stopped forcibly.’

‘The police personnel are following the state orders and our drivers do not resist them. That is why the administration uses our containers and vehicles wherever it wants.’

Referring to his losses, he said that during the sit-ins, ‘angry mobs come with cranes and bulldozers and our containers are lifted and thrown away. We suffer losses and the government does not give us anything.’

Imdad Hussain Naqvi further said that a good 40-foot container costs at least Rs 1 million and often contains goods worth crores.

He says that when the goods catch fire, the transport company also has to pay the owner’s losses.

“We also have to look at the reputation of our company and to keep the old clients connected, we have to pay their losses.”

On the other hand, the Islamabad Police has a completely different stance. A police spokesperson told BBC Urdu that these containers are rented and if they are damaged, the government bears the loss.

A member of the committee formed by three Islamabad Police officers to deal with the container issues told the BBC that if there is a law and order situation in the federal capital, Islamabad Police has only one contractor. He is told how many containers are needed and he provides containers to Islamabad Police as needed.

He said that currently there are ‘700 containers in Islamabad which have been acquired on rent.’

Rejecting the transporters’ claim, he said that a bill is prepared based on the number of days the containers are used and sent to the Islamabad Chief Commissioner’s Office from where the rent for these containers is paid to the contractor through the Ministry of Interior.

He said that in view of the law and order situation during the last five months, the rent for the containers used has been paid. According to him, more than Rs 70 million has been paid so far.

Citizens worried: ‘How can I take my mother to the hospital?’

Turning Islamabad into a ‘container city’ due to any protest or foreign delegation visit brings the lives of ordinary citizens to a standstill.

As one user told on X (formerly Twitter) that he had to administer emergency oxygen to his father and reach the hospital with great difficulty.

He wrote, ‘I don’t know how many other people like me had to go through this ordeal.’

Another user tagged Islamabad police and asked, ‘My mother has a brain hemorrhage and her condition is very critical. How can I take her to the hospital when all the roads to Islamabad and Rawalpindi are closed?’

Some users mocked government ministers who had said that they would not allow the protesters to ‘shut down the country.’

One user wrote, ‘We will not allow any group or political party to shut down Islamabad. We will do this ourselves.’

But the extent to which the containers installed to stop the protesters proved to be effective can be seen in the photos and videos shared by the PTI.

The convoy coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad, led by Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, is removing all the containers from the route with the help of machinery.

Even before this, when the PTI protested under the leadership of Ali Amin Gandapur in October, the protesters had succeeded in removing the containers with the help of government machinery and reached Islamabad.

Related Topics

#Pakistan_Tehreek_e_Insaf #Pakistan #Politics #Islamabad #Police #Imran_Khan