Section 144 in Rawalpindi until 8 November: a practical guide for residents and businesses

The Rawalpindi district administration imposed Section 144 on 10 October 2026 for 30 days, so it runs until 8 November, Dawn reported. The order followed an intelligence assessment of a threat to sensitive installations and main roads, at a time when a political long march announced for Islamabad was under way elsewhere in the country. Traders in the city have separately voiced concern about road closures if the march reaches the twin cities.

This guide sticks to the practical side: what the order restricts, and how to keep home and work running if roads close.

What Section 144 restricts

According to the report, the order bans:

• Public gatherings of more than five people
• Open display of weapons and of items that can cause injury, such as sticks with spikes, petrol bombs and ball bearings
• Use of drones
• Interfering with police arrangements that control assemblies and traffic

It does not restrict normal daily life. Shops, offices, schools, deliveries and travel continue as usual unless the police announce a specific closure.

Which routes are most likely to be affected?

No closures had been announced at the time of writing. In past events, the roads most often affected were:

• Murree Road through Faizabad, the main link between the two cities
• The Islamabad Expressway and the entry points to the Red Zone
• GT Road near the motorway and Rawat
• The Metro Bus route, which is sometimes suspended

Side routes such as IJP Road, the Peshawar Road side and the Srinagar Highway have often stayed open when Murree Road was blocked.

Keep home running

• Keep a few days of essentials at home: water, gas cylinder if you use one, medicines, and fuel in the car.
• Check your UPS or generator now. Fuel deliveries and electrician call-outs are slower when roads are shut.
• Keep the numbers of your plumber, electrician and building management saved, so a problem can be handled by phone first.

Keep a business running

• Move stock deliveries to early morning, and keep a day or two of extra stock.
• Agree with staff in advance which days they can work from home if Murree Road or the Expressway closes.
• Tell customers on social media how to reach you and whether you are open, rather than letting them guess.
• If an event, office move or fit-out is booked for the next two weeks, confirm access with the venue or building on the morning of the job.

Stay informed

Follow the Rawalpindi and Islamabad traffic police accounts for same-day closures. Rely on official notices rather than forwarded messages, which are often out of date.

Frequently asked questions

How long is Section 144 in force in Rawalpindi?

For 30 days from 10 October 2026, so until 8 November 2026, according to the order reported by Dawn.

Does Section 144 close shops or offices?

No. It restricts gatherings of more than five people, weapons and drones. Shops, offices and deliveries continue unless the police announce a specific closure.

Which roads usually close during marches in the twin cities?

Murree Road at Faizabad, the Islamabad Expressway near the Red Zone, GT Road near Rawat and the Metro Bus route have been affected in past events. Side routes have often stayed open.

Can I still get a plumber or electrician during closures?

Usually yes, but response times are longer. Describe the problem by phone or WhatsApp first so the technician can come prepared.

Sources: Dawn, 10 October 2026, on the Section 144 order, and Dawn, October 2026, on traders' concerns about road closures. This article is a practical guide and takes no position on the political events involved.