ISLAMABAD: The district administration on Monday started the removal of at least a thousand containers placed around the Red Zone and other parts of the federal capital for the last 25 days, at an estimate cost to the taxpayers of around Rs 500 million.
The Islamabad Capital Territory Police started impounding shipping containers in the second week of September to cope with the possibility of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ending its long march in Islamabad.
According to official sources, the administration impounded and rented around 1,000 containers to block entry into the Red Zone, as well as entry to the capital city through various roads and city exit and entry points.
Sources added that, based on the daily rent agreed by the district administration and the goods transport association, the estimated daily cost for 1000 containers came to Rs 20 million, bringing the total estimated rent for a 25-day period to Rs 500 million.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Captain Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry (Retd), ordered the police to remove containers placed in different parts of the city on Monday (12th October). Following the directives of the IGP, the city police began removing the containers and the removal process is expected to be completed by Tuesday.
Following the announcement of the PTI’s long march, the capital police began preparations and demanded Rs 820 million to cover the rent for containers, as well as the accommodation and meals for police personnel requisitioned from Punjab and Sindh
As part of the security plan, a wall of containers was erected around the Red Zone, while other containers were placed on roads and greenbelts along its boundary. A large number of containers were also positioned at the city’s exit and entry points, extending from Margalla Road to Faisal Avenue, Khayaban-i-Suhrawardy, Third Avenue, the Expressway, the Srinagar Highway, and other major roads. The Red Zone has seven designated entry points, including Khayaban-i-Suhrawardy, the Old Parade Ground/Jinnah Avenue, and Aga Khan Road.
Additionally, the administration filled several containers with sand and welded them together to make them more difficult to overturn.
Talking to Business Recorder, Malik Shehzad, leader of Goods Transport Association contradicted government’s claims regarding the number of containers and rent stating that around 1500 containers were placed in the federal capital at an agreed cost of Rs 30,000 per container per day, however no amount has been paid to transporters so far. Shehzad further said that they would hold a press conference soon in this regard.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Islamabad Ali Waseem and Senior Superintendent (SSP) Operations Islamabad Qazi Ali Raza visited various duty points across the city to oversee the containers removal process as well reviewed security arrangements, checking procedures and the overall law and order situation.
They directed police personnel to remain alert and perform their duties professionally. They also visited the red zone and zero-point checkpoint, where they reviewed security arrangements, checking procedures and the performance of officers and officials on duty.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026