PARACHINAR: A complete shutter-down strike in Parachinar continued for the second consecutive day on Thursday. Residents and traders are protesting the prolonged closure of key access roads, especially the Tall–Parachinar Road.
Shops, markets, and business centres remain shut. The city is facing severe shortages of essential goods.
The local trader community said the sit-in outside the Press Club against the closure of the main road connecting Parachinar with the rest of the country has entered its 45th day. Traders and shopkeepers have joined the protest by closing their businesses.
The protesters were demanding the reopening of roads to and from Kurram, which had been closed for the last six months, leaving a population of over 0.5 million without access to essential food items and medical care.
Protest leaders said the sit-in will continue until authorities meet their demands. Their main demand is the permanent reopening of the Tall–Parachinar Road, which is vital for the region.
The trade union and protest organisers confirmed a complete halt in commercial activity. They said the strike will go on until freight trucks can reach the city.
A trader representative said authorities had promised goods transport would resume today. But the blockade and restricted access remain. This continues to worry residents and fuels the protest.
