PTI protests caused Rs151m loss, NA told

ISLAMABAD:

The government incurred a loss of Rs151 million due to the closure of motorways during PTI protest in Nov 2024, the communications ministry revealed in the National Assembly on Thursday.

Communications Minister Aleem Khan presented the details of the losses caused by the opposition party’s protests in a written reply to the lower house of parliament.

He stated that motorways M-2, M-3, and M-4 were closed from Nov 24-26 due to the protests, resulting in a toll revenue loss of Rs151 million.

The minister said that the motorways were shut due to law and order concerns, noting that intelligence reports indicated that protestors, armed with sticks and slingshots, planned to disrupt peace and cause damage to public property.

“For the safety of people’s lives and property, the motorways were closed at various points, and a public notice was issued regarding the closures,” the minister explained.

He also highlighted that during the past week, toll revenues collected from the three motorways amounted to Rs353.6 million.

On Nov 24, PTI supporters left Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for Islamabad, demanding the restoration of the party’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members and the reversal of the 26th Amendment.