LAHORE: A large number of citizens were left stranded on the roads at Iftar time and had no option but to break their fasts in their respective vehicles with water and titbits available nearby due to roadblocks caused by Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan’s visit to the provincial capital on Monday.
Lahoris vehemently criticised the Punjab government for the ill-planned traffic arrangements, including the blocking of major and link roads of several areas of the city, that limited movement of vehicular traffic.
“There was no option but to abandon plans and return home,” said journalist Zaman Khan, who reached his office three hours late due to the traffic gridlock.
“Who is responsible for my salary deduction now? I want answers,” he lamented.
Although a public holiday was announced a day prior to the Chinese VP’s visit to the provincial capital, no announcement of roadblocks was made and neither was a traffic plan for alternative routes provided.
Interestingly, some areas of Defence and Cantt were forcibly closed by the police.
Vice-President Qishan had arrived in Islamabad on May 26 on a three-day official visit. His visit is expected to reinforce bilateral ties and add momentum to the growing cooperation between the brotherly countries in multiple fields.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson had said that Qishan’s visit to Pakistan would further deepen high-level exchanges, friendship and mutual trust between the two countries and advance the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), besides bilateral cooperation across the board.
