ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Confusion deepened across the twin cities on Thursday as residents grappled with empty fruit shelves, shuttered petrol pumps, and a worsening milk shortage, even as officials insisted supplies remained stable.
یہ پڑی ہے حکومت کی کفایت شعاری اسلام آباد کے ناکوں پر لمبی قطاریں pic.twitter.com/gDPMkTOszq
— Zahida Rao (@zahidarao123) April 23, 2026
With no second round of US–Iran peace talks on the horizon, there is little clarity from any authority on why the scarcity persists.
Mediation Madness: Only private cars allowed on Motorways and Highways. GT Road is closed for big transport near Attock. Hundreds of goods and transport vehicles stuck in and around the Islamabad. https://t.co/l4mJiZyczi
— Riaz ul Haq (@Riazhaq) April 23, 2026
In Islamabad, fruit shops showed bare racks after five days of lockdown, with only limited stock of melons and oranges available. Families with young children were hit particularly hard by a sudden scarcity of milk, with prices climbing to Rs. 190–220 per litre in local markets, while packaged brands surged to Rs260.
A fruit shop in Islamabad after 5 days of lockdown in twin cities pic.twitter.com/4ROnz2Irtz
— Matiullah Jan (@Matiullahjan919) April 23, 2026
Across Rawalpindi, more than 70 per cent of petrol pumps remained closed, forcing motorists into long queues at the few stations still operating. Citizens complained of severe hardship amid tight security arrangements, while authorities attributed the crisis to panic buying and transport disruptions rather than a nationwide shortage. Petrol is currently priced at Rs. 366.58 per litre, while diesel retails at Rs. 353.43, keeping transport costs elevated despite recent adjustments.
راولپنڈی میں 70 فیصد سے زائد پٹرول پمپ تاحال بند شہریوں کو مشکلات سکیورٹی سخت انتظامات خمیازہ عوام بھگت رہے ہیں
— Babar Malik (@babermalikisb) April 23, 2026
The Deputy Commissioner Islamabad issued an advisory urging calm, stressing that fuel supplies were adequate. Yet the reality on the ground told a different story, with hundreds of goods vehicles stranded as motorways and highways remained restricted to private cars only, and GT Road near Attock closed for heavy transport.
https://archive.mmnews.tv/attock-refinery-shuts-main-unit-amid-traffic-restrictions-in-islamabad/
The prolonged blockade has choked supply chains, leaving markets starved of essentials and citizens uncertain about what lies ahead. Officials have yet to clarify when restrictions will ease, fuelling frustration as the public bears the brunt of shortages without clear communication. The absence of progress in US–Iran talks has only added to the uncertainty, with no diplomatic breakthrough to explain or resolve the continuing siege-like conditions in the capital.
